Coca-Cola to test “mini” 7.5-ounce cans in U.S. convenience aisles

08 October 2025

Coca-Cola has announced that early next year it will begin rolling out single-serve mini cans of 7.5 ounces in select U.S. convenience stores in a bid to reach consumers who want smaller, lower-calorie and more affordable soda portions. The decision marks a shift in strategy at a time when growth in the U.S. soda market has increasingly leaned on pricing rather than volume gains.

Under the plan, these mini cans will carry a suggested retail price of $1.29 and hold roughly 90 calories—far below the 240 calories typical of the 20-ounce plastic bottles that currently dominate convenience store displays. The goal is to offer something more accessible than the usual price point of sodas, especially in a context where many consumers are feeling budget pressure.

Among the flavors planned for the mini cans are Coke Zero Sugar, Cherry Coke, Sprite, Fanta, and in regions where it is popular, Diet Coke. Meanwhile, in grocery and wholesale settings, Coca-Cola intends to offer multi-packs of these mini cans, similar to how it distributes its other formats.

The move also dovetails with a parallel initiative to reintroduce glass-bottled sodas sweetened with cane sugar rather than high fructose corn syrup—a formula long associated with “Mexican Coke,” and one that many consumers perceive as more premium or natural. The cane sugar offering is widely seen as a response to consumer skepticism about high fructose corn syrup as well as pressure from public comment and health discourse.

Joel Bishop, president of commercial leadership at Coca-Cola North America, said the company’s thinking is rooted in “affordability and recruitment”—meaning that the smaller packaging could win over new or lapsed soda drinkers who are wary of higher price tags on full-size bottles. He noted that at present there are few good soda options under $2 in many convenience settings.

The backdrop for this change is a U.S. soft drink market that has been challenged by flat or declining volume trends, with revenue increases coming largely from price hikes. In particular, some consumer segments—including Hispanic consumers—have cut back on soda consumption as cost of living pressures mount.

Coca-Cola’s return to cane sugar formulas is not entirely new—it has offered such products in certain regional or international markets. But pairing the sugar reformulation with downsized, lower-priced packaging suggests a dual strategy: to lure more frequent purchases by lowering the entry cost while repositioning how the brand engages with ingredient preferences.

Of course, the success of this maneuver is not guaranteed. Observers will closely watch whether the mini cans cannibalize sales of existing formats or merely multiply soda options. There is also a question of how much consumers will value the shift to cane sugar in the face of broader health guidance urging reduced sugar intake across the board.

Still, the launch of mini cans could push competitors to rethink their snack-friendly formats. If the smaller can proves popular, it might prompt a reshuffling of shelf space and pricing structures across the convenience store beverage aisles.

In sum, Coca-Cola’s latest maneuver reflects a company seeking to adapt its portfolio to changing cost sensitivities, evolving consumer tastes, and ingredient preferences. Whether the mini cans and cane sugar bottles move the needle meaningfully or simply represent incremental experimentation remains to be seen.