NEW YORK, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Coca-Cola is

introducing mini 7.5-ounce single-serve cans of some of its

sodas in U.S. convenience stores early next year, hoping

cash-strapped and calorie-conscious consumers will be attracted

to the smaller, cheaper drinks.

Later this year, Atlanta-based Coke will also introduce

glass bottles of Coca-Cola soda sweetened with cane sugar rather

than high fructose corn syrup, said Joel Bishop, the company's

president of commercial leadership for its North American

operating unit.

President Donald Trump said this summer that Coke would

introduce the cane sugar-sweetened fizzy drink.

Coke has seen choppy demand for its sodas in the U.S., with much

of its sales increases coming from price hikes rather than

volume growth. A pullback in spending by Hispanic consumers had

been partly to blame.

The new single-serve mini cans are aimed at getting more

consumers to try Coke, Bishop said.

"Affordability and recruitment are what we're trying to

do," he said. "There's not a lot of under-$2 offerings."

The suggested retail price for the individual mini cans is

$1.29. Each one is 90 calories, versus 240 calories for a

20-ounce plastic bottle, the company's most popular offering in

convenience stores.

Coke Zero Sugar, Cherry Coke, Sprite, Fanta and other new

flavors will be offered in mini cans, Bishop said. Diet Coke

will also be in the cans in areas of the U.S. where the product

is popular, Bishop said.

Larger packs of mini cans are available in grocery and big

box stores like Costco and Kroger ( KR ).

For years, U.S. consumers have sought out so-called

"Mexican" Coke that uses cane sugar instead of high fructose

corn syrup, saying they preferred the flavor.

Trump's Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has blamed high

fructose corn syrup for chronic diseases such as obesity and

diabetes.