low/reduced-calorie compound that tastes like sugar when used in beverages and foods.” The challenge will award an individual or team of people a $1 million USD grand prize for the discovery and development of natural low and no-cal- orie compound to replace the sugar and other sugar cur- rently being used in their products today. With Coca-Cola saying “We think that somewhere in the world, there is an individual or team of people who can solve our challenge!” Coca-Cola also introduced a less scientific challenge, yet equally impressive campaign called the “Sweet Story Chal- lenge.” People from around the world can submit written anecdotes and videos about their favorite, tried-and- true methods for naturally sweetening their foods or beverages which will then compete for a $100,000 grand prize. “We’re always searching for newer, better ingredients, and we know that amazing ideas can come from anywhere,” said Robert Long, SVP and chief innovation officer at Coca-Cola. “These two challenges are very much rooted in our desire to make the drinks our consumers want to drink, and in our willingness to look beyond the walls of our company for breakthrough sugar alternatives that help us deliver the great taste people love but with less sugar and fewer calories.” Both of these challenges are great ways for Coca-Cola to have both customer engagement and show that they are serious about the health of their customers and commit- ted to providing the best possible product to meet the demands of the market, Plus it is good to see Coca-Cola putting their money where your mouth is.
By Katie Davis S ugar also known as sucrose, if you are looking at the ingredients label which is half glucose and half fructose sweetens most of what we enjoy eating and drinking. For thousands of years, sugar has been extract- ed from sugar cane, which people have been utilizing as a source of sweetener. However, the soda beverage sector continues to struggle, as sales continue to drop as cus- tomers change their drinking and buying habits for their drink of choice. This should be no surprise considering that these beverages and the sweeteners used to make them have been public health enemy number one with the medical, dental and other health professionals for years now. However, truth be told the scientific evidence remains unclear whether reduced, low-calorie or no-calorie sugar substitutes like aspartame, sucralose and stevia are any better or healthier for you and some may say these sugar substitutes may even be worse than the sugar they are replacing. With consumers continuing to seek natural and low calorie options for their diets, the Coca- Cola Company is looking to you for new options for natural sweeteners. Yes, Coca-Cola has put tremen- dous amounts of efforts and dollars in the research and development and discovery of natural low and no-calorie compounds, but they are now putting the challenge to the customers and general public seeking their help to find a natural, safe, reduced, low or no- calorie compound that can generate the taste sensation of sugar when used in beverages and foods. The Coca-Cola Company is excited to sponsor The Coca-Cola Company Sweetener Chal- lenge (the “Challenge”). So, The Coca-Cola Company Sweetener Chal- lenge begins with a casting call, you may say, to all researchers and scientists to seek “a natural, safe,
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SEPTEMBER 2017 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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