Supply of classic Coke stabilizing

The arrival of more imported sugar has allowed soft drink giant Coca-Cola Philippines to soon resume normal distribution of classic Coke in some of the country’s leading fast-food chains.

The recent tightness in the local supply of refined sugar had caused Coca-Cola to temporarily reduce the supply of the Coke Original Taste intended for fast-food chains.

But with the arrival of more imported sugar, Coca-Cola Philippines Communications Manager Samantha Sanchez said in a phone interview yesterday that consumers can expect the classic Coke Original Taste to be available in more fast-food chains in the next few weeks.

“There are selected stores (fast-food chains) that have been offering the beverage already,” she said. “It has always been available in supermarkets and local sari-sari stores.”

As of Sunday, about 7,300 metric tons (MT) of refined sugar intended for the operations of Coca-Cola Philippines had arrived.

“Coca-Cola has been working closely with the Sugar Regulatory Authority and all our partners to ensure the availability of our Coke Original taste in stores. We are optimistic that the supply of our Coke Original Taste in restaurants and in stores will continue to stabilize in the next few weeks,” Sanchez said.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol also met recently with Coca-Cola Philippines president Winn Everhart, who expressed interest to work directly with local sugar farmers to stabilize Coke’s own supply.

According to Piñol, Coca-Cola Philippines, one of the largest consumers of local refined sugar, is looking at Bukidnon and North Cotabato as possible areas where they can work directly with farmers.

Earlier, the company requested that the government allow them to directly import sugar, citing the low local supply of refined sugar and the refiners’ reluctance to process more since this would entail higher costs.

Piñol said in an earlier interview that he was inclined to allow Coca-Cola to directly import if both the local supply and arriving sugar imports still would not be enough to meet the company’s sugar demand.