The Coca-Cola group’s packaging plants in the UK and mainland Europe are experiencing supply problems. The phenomenon has started causing problems with the delivery of the famous soda to several UK supermarkets, reports The Guardian, Thursday.
Several people have said on social networks that they no longer find Coke Zero or Coke Light in their usual stores. The shortage would be due to “multiple logistical difficulties,” said Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP). The entity in charge of manufacturing, transporting and selling all of the group’s sodas in Europe and Asia mentioned a lack of truck drivers.
@sainsburys what is going on with your Leatherhead branch – been awful for months – no Coke Zero for weeks-pic of salad aisle today. Plenty of suitcases though !!!! pic.twitter.com/qPtWKLmaAx
– Jonathan Nicholson (@ joffy23) June 7, 2021
“We are very satisfied with our performance under the circumstances”
The company also highlighted a shortage of stocks of aluminum cans. “The shortage of cans is a key issue for us, but we are working with customers to manage this successfully,” said Nik Jhangiani, CFO of CCEP. However, the situation did not prevent CCEP from recording higher financial results. The company reported pre-tax income of 520 million euros for the first six months of 2021, almost twice as much as before.
“We are very satisfied with our performance under the circumstances, with service levels superior to those of many of our competitors in the market,” added Nik Jhangiani. He also explained that the company needed more than ever “to buy key goods and services at competitive prices and on tight deadlines”.
Due to the combined effects of the coronavirus health crisis and Brexit, the UK has recently experienced shortages of several consumer goods. The Wetherspoon pub chain has announced that it is running out of certain brands of beer. Last week, McDonald’s had been unable to offer milkshakes and bottled drinks in select restaurants in Scotland, Wales and England.
