ATLANTA -- As James Quincey prepares to take over as CEO of the Coca-Cola Co., he promises carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) will remain a "key focus" for the company. Built on the back of Coca-Cola soda, the company aims to maintain recent brand growth even as the category lost volume for a 10th straight year.
"Sparkling soft drinks remain a key focus as well in the principal categories in which we compete," said Quincey, president and COO of the Atlanta-based company, who will succeed Muhtar Kent as CEO in May, during a fourth-quarter 2016 earnings call Feb. 9.
The CSD category lost about 209 million gallons of sales volume in 2016, extending overall volume sales loss in the United States for a 10th year, according to estimates from Beverage Marketing Corp., New York.
Here's where Quincey sees opportunities to grow the category ...