Coke goes 0-calorie with latest soft drink

Associated Press

ATLANTA — The Coca-Cola Co. said yesterday it will launch a no-calorie version of its trademark soft drink called Coca-Cola Zero in the United States in June.

The drink will be sweetened partly with a blend of aspartame and acesulfame potassium. Aspartame is a key ingredient in Diet Coke, but a spokesman for the Atlanta-based company said Coca-Cola Zero will have a unique taste.

With the rollout of Coca-Cola Zero, there will be a half-dozen different versions of trademark Coca-Cola on the market. There are also several different varieties of Diet Coke, including the recently announced rollout of Diet Coke sweetened with Splenda.

Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo Inc. also has several different varieties of Pepsi and Diet Pepsi, including a one-calorie cola called Pepsi One, which is sweetened with Splenda. Spokesman Dave DeCecco said Pepsi does not have any plans for a zero-calorie version of Pepsi.

Officials at both companies have said they believe consumers are increasingly interested in variety and they are not worried about market confusion by all the different drinks.

"We work hard to minimize that by making sure all of our brands have distinct graphics and marketing," Coke spokesman Scott Williamson said.

Shares of Coca-Cola rose 26 cents to close at $52.30 on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock has been trading at a 52-week range of $50.75 to $59.15.