Diet soda sales boost Coca-Cola results

Solid sales of Coca-Cola's revamped diet cola offerings helped the soda giant score better-than-expected quarterly results today.

Net income for the quarter ending March 30 was USD 1.4 billion, up 15.7 per cent from the year-ago period. Revenues fell 16.4 per cent to USD 7.6 billion following the sale of bottling assets to franchisers.

The beverage giant posted a five percent rise in organic revenues, which excludes the effect of currency movements, acquisitions and divestitures.

Coca-Cola enjoyed double-digit volume growth in its Coca-Cola Zero Sugar diet drink following a revamp and said its Diet Coke cola returned to volume growth in North America following a retool that included four new flavored versions of the product.

"We're encouraged with our first quarter performance as we continue our evolution as a consumer-centric, total beverage company," said Coca-Cola chief executive James Quincey.

Among overseas markets, Coca-Cola cited strong gains in Mexico, Turkey and South Africa, as well as China and India. Areas with declines included Western Europe, Nigeria and some parts of Latin America.

Company shares rose 0.9 per cent in pre-market trading to USD 44.35.