Coca-Cola profit falls on charge at bottler : US Business

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co reported lower quarterly profit on Thursday, hurt by an impairment charge at its largest bottler.

The world's largest soft-drink maker's net income was $1.42 billion, or 61 cents per share, in the second quarter ended June 27, compared with $1.85 billion, or 80 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding a 40 cent per share charge at Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc , which is partly owned by Coca-Cola, the company earned $1.01 per share.

Like other soft-drink makers, Coke's U.S. sales have slowed as consumers grapple with soaring food and fuel costs, declining home values and job uncertainty. Also, increasingly health-conscious consumers have been opting for drinks seen as healthier, such as bottled teas or vitamin-enhanced waters.

The company's brands include Minute Maid juice, Powerade sports drink and Dasani bottled water.

(Reporting by Martinne Geller; Editing by Derek Caney)

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