Coca-Cola is the No. 1-selling soft drink in America.
Just like so many other things, though, some versions of Coke are getting very difficult to find these days during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Twitter is filled with complaints from people who can't find their favorite Coke product, according to Business Insider.
Hard-to-find brands in some stores include:
- Caffeine-Free Coke.
- Cherry Coke.
- Coke Zero.
- Fresca (If you are a Fresca fan, here is a full reporton the frustrations trying to find that beverage).
- Tab Cola (Yes, they still make it. Or at least they were making it earlier this year).
The Coca-Cola Co.'s CEO James Quincy told investors they are focusing on their key brands now, like Coke and Diet Coke, to keep store shelves stocked.
They don't want Coke ending up like Lysol wipes, bicycles or coins, which are all nearly impossible to find.
Quincy also said the company may soon discontinue some slow-selling brands, but he wouldn't specify which ones.
Aluminum cans running low
From the Doesn't That Stink file, the bigger threat to Coke products is the worsening aluminum can shortage.
It's starting to impact all soft drink companies, and especially craft breweries that don't have bottles to fall back on.
Scott LaFollette, head of brewing operations at 50 West Brewing of Cincinnati, said, "95% of our production is canned product. And if we can't get cans, we can't get our product out."
CNN blames the can shortage on soaring demand for canned beverages, from White Claw and other hard seltzers, to just people drinking more at home and not going to bars.
So beer and soft drink makers are filling cans, not kegs, and the can supplies are running low.
Larger breweries are shifting production back to bottles already.
So don't be surprised to see more Coke products in 16-ounce plastic bottles in the weeks to come, and fewer in 12-ounce cans, as this latest pandemic shortage impacts consumers.
As always, don't waste your money.
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