Diet Coke sales still struggling in US

NEW YORK -- Coca-Cola says sales of Diet Coke are still sliding as people continue gravitating toward foods they feel are fresh or natural.

Sandy Douglas, president of Coca-Cola North America, attributed the drink's declining sales to the move away from diet and frozen products in recent years.

During the second quarter, Coca-Cola said Wednesday that Diet Coke's sales volume declined 7 percent. CEO Muhtar Kent said the drink's challenge has been "very much a U.S.-centric one."

Douglas said he thinks the trend toward products positioned as natural will endure. But he expressed optimism for the future of Diet Coke, which is made with the artificial sweetener aspartame. Douglas said the company is starting to see its consumer base "stabilize."