Real Talk: Supporting people to make healthier decisions
At our latest Real Talk forum in early 2024, we brought together a host of academics, campaigners, industry experts and stakeholders for a special and informative discussion hosted by Tortoise Media.
Chaired and moderated by Tortoise’s award-winning Editor Jeevan Vasagar, the discussion was focused on one central question: can consumers be better supported to make healthier decisions?
Jeevan was joined by Dusan Stojankic, Coca‑Cola GB, Zora Milenkovic of Euromonitor International, and Max Mawby of Thinks Insights & Strategy.
The panel discussed how both regulation and industry action – including product innovation, reformulation, and responsible marketing and labelling – can all play a role in helping consumers to make informed decisions.
The discussion included in-depth conversations on a variety of key topics, including how to meaningfully change consumer behaviours, and the role of governments, businesses, and the consumer.
Behavioural science research shows that three tools are very impactful: 1) Incentives: Often meaning the price; 2) Legislation: The guardrails that structure the market; and finally 3) Information: Transparency on pack.
Dusan Stojankic explained that companies like Coca‑Cola must play a big role in the wider movement to help consumers reduce their overall sugar intake. He explained that Coca‑Cola’s global sugar-reduction journey began 40 years ago, when the company launched Diet Coke, and Coca‑Cola has since reformulated 43 drinks, and launched over 100 low and no-sugar drinks in Great Britain. This has led to the removal of over 52,000 tonnes of sugar from Coca‑Cola Great Britain’s portfolio since 2010, representing a 30% reduction in the amount of sugar contributed to shoppers’ baskets.
The session saw all panellists offer fascinating insights into the nuances of the health and nutrition landscape across Great Britian – particularly surrounding how companies can help consumers make healthier purchasing decisions, whilst importantly offering them choice.
To find out more about The Coca‑Cola Company’s commitments to health and wellbeing, .