Coca-Cola Gets Lift From a Perennial Laggard: Diet Coke

Beverage giant reports stronger-than-expected revenue in the latest quarter

A rebound in demand for diet cola lifted Coca-Cola Co.’s core soda business in the latest quarter, as consumers turned back to the zero-calorie drinks they once spurned.

The company’s global soda volume grew 2% from the same quarter a year ago, led by rising demand for Diet Coke and Coke Zero Sugar, a reformulation of Coke Zero that tastes and looks more like original Coke, with a red circle on the cans.

“Coke...