# Coca-Cola's CEO Shrugs Off the 'Fridge Cigarette' Nickname as Diet Coke Volume Grows 6% in the Third Quarter

Henrique Braun told Yahoo Finance consumers can call it what they like. Coca-Cola's Oct. 27 earnings report showed Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Light volume up 6% in the quarter.

- Section: [Economy](https://rightnewsrightnow.com/economy/)
- Published: 2026-11-01
- By: RightNewsRightNow Staff
- Canonical page: https://rightnewsrightnow.com/articles/coca-cola-ceo-braun-diet-coke-fridge-cigarette-nickname-volume-up-6-percent-fox-news/

Coca-Cola's chief executive says he is not bothered by the internet's "fridge cigarette" nickname for Diet Coke, Fox News reports, and the company's latest numbers show the drink growing.

What he said. In an interview with Yahoo Finance, CEO Henrique Braun said consumers can call the drink what they want. "The most important thing to us is that we don't position Diet Coke in that way," he said, calling it "a great tasting product which connects with the consumer in a very unique way." He added that Coca-Cola has been "incorporating digital tech and AI" into its plans and is "really excited about the prospects of growth."

The numbers. The company's quarterly report, released Oct. 27, says global sales volume for Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Light rose 6% in the third quarter of 2026, led by North America and Asia Pacific. Fox says volume also rose 6% in the first quarter and 7% in the second, after a flat 2025.

The health angle. Fox adds comments from outside experts it interviewed earlier. New York psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert said the drink's fizz and cold hit can offer quick relief and warned it can become an "emotional crutch." Wisconsin naturopathic doctor Debra Muth raised concerns about artificial sweeteners and the brain's reward system. These are individual opinions, and the report does not cite studies for them.

What to keep in mind. Braun did not link the company's digital efforts to the nickname, and the report does not say why Diet Coke is growing. Fox said it asked Coca-Cola for further comment.

## Source

Original reporting: [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/coca-cola-says-diet-coke-back-takes-fridge-cigarette-moniker)