NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Business

CO2 crisis hits big brand soft drinks including Pepsi and Coca-Cola

By Sean Poulter and Danielle Amato
Daily Mail·
30 Jun, 2018 03:51 AM6 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Sales of big brand soft drinks were being rationed last night by a UK supermarket. Photo / 123RF

Sales of big brand soft drinks were being rationed last night by a UK supermarket. Photo / 123RF

Sales of big brand soft drinks were being rationed last night by a leading supermarket as the CO2 crisis escalated.

Asda's decision to limit sales came as food industry leaders warned of threats to supplies of beer, cider, fresh meat, bagged salads and bakery products, according to Daily Mail.

Pubs, corner shops and restaurants have run out of some top beer and cider brands on what is expected to be one of their busiest weekends of the year.

The Food and Drink Federation, which speaks for manufacturers, advised that some lines of fresh chicken, pork and bacon are likely to disappear from supermarket shelves.

Asda customers trying to stock up on soft drinks to see them through the heatwave and World Cup parties were blocked from buying any more than six bottles or multipacks on its website.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

One online shopper contacted the store via Twitter to complain, saying: "Suddenly, in the middle of the hottest part of the year there's a six-bottle limit on soft drinks."

The cap applies to online purchases of bottles and multipacks of Pepsi, Pepsi Max, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, 7Up, as well as Asda's own-label soft drinks.

It emerged yesterday that the bakery giant Warburtons has been forced to stop making crumpets at some plants, while the cider maker Thatchers has temporarily ceased production.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Warburtons uses CO2 in the so-called modified atmosphere packaging for its products, which is designed to increase the shelf life.

Soft drinks firms, brewers and cider makers cannot operate without the gas which is used to put the fizz into their products.

Pubs across the country have run out of several popular draft beers, lager and cider, including John Smith's, Amstel and Strongbow.

Even if they have stocks of beer in their cellars, publicans cannot get it to customers unless they have their own supplies of CO2 to pump it up to the bar.

Discover more

Opinion

Brian Gaynor: Bring greater diversity to the boardroom

29 Jun 05:00 PM
Business

Another motorcycle maker considers overseas move

29 Jun 09:19 PM
Business

Trump's trade dares have vaporised the Dow's gains for 2018

29 Jun 11:00 PM
Business

Apple set to launch an Amazon Prime-like model - reports

29 Jun 11:34 PM

The production of fresh pork and chicken has been curtailed over the last week because abattoirs do not have the CO2 gas needed to put the animals to sleep ahead of the slaughter process.

The gas is also needed for the packaging of some fresh meat cuts to extend their shelf life.

Chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation, Ian Wright, said: 'We will see fewer chicken dishes, fewer pork and bacon dishes.

"We'll see probably less carbonated drinks and certainly bakery and other things that benefit from what's called modified atmosphere packaging."

Mr Wright expects new supplies of CO2 to become available next week. However, it will take some time before it reaches food and drink producers.

The British Retail Consortium, which speaks for supermarkets, confirmed some products will be in short supply.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A spokesman said: "Issues remain with the supply of carbon dioxide across Europe.

"Retailers and suppliers are working hard to ensure food availability is maintained by sourcing suitable alternatives.

"We are aware of specific pressures in some areas such as carbonated soft drinks, beer, British chicken and British pork but the majority of food products are unaffected and retailers do not anticipate food shortages.

"However, it is likely that the mix of products available may be affected."

Asda explained the decision to ration products, saying: "Given the issues affecting the whole industry, we've proactively managed the supply of some products such as soft drinks to ensure we've got enough to go around."

Warburtons, which is based in Bolton, said just one of its plants – at Eastwood in Nottinghamshire – has been operating normally.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Two others – in Enfield, North London, and Burnley – are not producing any goods, while its Stockton-on-Tees factory has received a small supply of CO2 after being offline for days.

A spokesman said: 'While the focus so far has been on meat and beverages, the current CO2 shortage is having a much wider impact across the food industry – even everyday staples such as crumpets are affected.

"We are producing nowhere near the 1.5 million packs of crumpets we usually make each week and have had to suspend production at a number of our bakeries."

Somerset based cider maker Thatchers said the CO2 shortage has created difficulties for the entire drinks industry.

Managing director Martin Thatcher said: "Like many other drinks producers, we are now unlikely to receive any deliveries of CO2 until next week."

The Ei Group, formerly known as Enterprise Inns, which is the UK's biggest pub group, has admitted running run out of some big brands of beer in a number of its 4,500 properties.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Wetherspoon, which has almost 1,000 outlets, said many are temporarily without draught John Smith's and Strongbow cider.

Brewing giant Heineken has admitted being unable to get kegs of some big brand beers to pubs.

Holdens Bottling, which is based in the West Midlands and works with independent breweries and small soft drinks firms, has been forced to halt its production of 80,000 bottles a day.

The loss of production is a disaster for the business, which had been on course for its best sales period in the 75 year history of the company because of the World Cup and the good weather.

Operations director, Mark Hammond, said: "The CO2 is an absolutely vital component, it is the equivalent of diesel in the haulage industry.

"We use it to get the actual fizz in the product, but it is also used in the processing to, for example, purge the tanks and pipes.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Without it there is very little we can do. I am not very happy at all at the way our suppliers have handled this. They just do not seem to care."

Britain's biggest food and drink wholesaler Booker has been rationing beer and cider suppliers to customers, who include small shopkeepers, cafes and hotels.

The company is owned by Tesco. Yesterday, a number of its own-label fizzy drinks, as well as Pepsi, Tango and 7UP, were listed as "out of stock" on its website, however the firm insisted it was unrelated to the CO2 crisis.

Waitrose said there was an industry-wide shortage of big brand soft drinks such as Pepsi and Coca-Cola.

Lidl confirmed that it has had problems. A spokesman said: "We anticipate that there will be shortages, but we are working closely with our suppliers to ensure, where possible, the impact on product availability is minimised."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Business

Premium
Business|small business

Controversial Kiwi start-up, once worth $38m, folds in New York

19 Jun 02:37 AM
GDPUpdated

Stronger-than-expected GDP signals no rate cut in July

19 Jun 02:01 AM
Premium
Property

‘Rather irrational’: Multi-millionaire questions Healthy Homes rules

18 Jun 11:00 PM

Audi offers a sporty spin on city driving with the A3 Sportback and S3 Sportback

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Business

Premium
Controversial Kiwi start-up, once worth $38m, folds in New York

Controversial Kiwi start-up, once worth $38m, folds in New York

19 Jun 02:37 AM

It says it's collateral damage in the city's war on Airbnb and will try again elsewhere.

Stronger-than-expected GDP signals no rate cut in July

Stronger-than-expected GDP signals no rate cut in July

19 Jun 02:01 AM
Premium
‘Rather irrational’: Multi-millionaire questions Healthy Homes rules

‘Rather irrational’: Multi-millionaire questions Healthy Homes rules

18 Jun 11:00 PM
Big four power firms near deal to secure Huntly's back-up role

Big four power firms near deal to secure Huntly's back-up role

18 Jun 10:57 PM
Gold demand soars amid global turmoil
sponsored

Gold demand soars amid global turmoil

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP