The country’s major bottling companies said Tuesday that they are facing a shortage of premium refined sugar, a key ingredient in manufacturing their top products including soft drinks.
Coca-Cola Beverage Philippines Inc., ARC Refreshments Corp. and Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) issued a joint statement confirming that they are grappling with supply issues.
“We confirm our industry is facing a shortage of premium refined sugar–a key ingredient in many of our products,” the three bottling companies said.
The three bottling companies assured the public that they are “working closely” with other stakeholders of the industry and the government “to address the situation.”
“We thank our customers and the public for their continued support to our products and for their understanding,” they said.
In a separate statement, PCPPI President and CEO Frederick Ong told the BusinessMirror that the company is already addressing the gap on sugar supply.
“PCPPI is working closely with key stakeholders in the beverage industry in addressing the gap on sugar supply. This matter is being worked on together with the government as dialogues continue,” Ong said.
In a recent Facebook post, Rafael M. Alunan III, Vice Chair of PCPPI’s Board of Directors, claimed that Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola and RC Cola would run out of premium sugar by next month due to dwindling local supply and import delays.
“This is a time-sensitive matter. It takes around 6 weeks to complete the process from approval to import all the way to the delivery at their respective warehouses,” Alunan, a former Tourism Secretary and Interior Secretary, said.
“There’s no time to lose. Otherwise, bottling plants will experience production downturns and labor layoffs; the government will experience lower tax collections and diminished investor confidence; consumers will be deprived of affordable soft drink supply.”
Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association, Inc. President Steven Cua told reporters that certain sizes of soft drinks are now missing in their shelves. Some have been gone from supmarket shelves for about 6 weeks, he said.
Cua said they have been warned by soft drink suppliers that they cannot assure ample supply of particular sizes of soft drinks, especially the most popular ones.