Aug 23 (Reuters) - U.S. soft drinks company Coca-Cola

is working with investment bank Lazard ( LAZ ) to review options,

including a potential sale, of British coffee chain Costa, which

it acquired in 2018 for over $5 billion, Sky News reported on

Saturday.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Coca-Cola,

Costa, and Lazard ( LAZ ) did not immediately respond to requests for

comment.

Atlanta-headquartered Coca-Cola has held initial talks with

a small number of potential bidders for Costa, including private

equity firms, Sky News reported, citing unidentified sources.

The report said indicative offers are expected in early

autumn, while noting that Coca-Cola may ultimately choose not to

proceed with a sale.

Costa Coffee operates in 50 countries, with more than 2,700

coffee shops across the UK and Ireland and over 1,300 more

outlets globally, according to its website.

Coca-Cola acquired the chain more than six years ago to

strengthen its push into healthier beverages and compete with

Starbucks ( SBUX ) and Nestle in the global coffee

market.

In the United States, food companies are seeking healthier

substitutes as they respond to Health Secretary Robert F.

Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again campaign. In July,

President Donald Trump said Coca-Cola had agreed to use real

cane sugar in the United States.