Coca-Cola temporarily pauses production due to the shortage of CO2 gas

EUROPE – Coca-Cola, the world’s soft drinks producer, has said it has “temporarily paused” some production because of the shortage of CO2 gas, even though the shortage so far has not affected supplies.

BBC reported that at least five CO2 producers in northern Europe are offline for maintenance, according to the publication Gasworld, which was the first to report on the shortage.

Last week, the makers of Heineken’s John Smith’s Extra Smooth and Amstel said supplies had been hit.

There are reports that the shortage is affecting deliveries of frozen foods, which are kept cool by dry ice, which is made by compressing CO2.

The BBC understands Ocado is rationing the frozen food it delivers to avoid running out of dry ice.

Seasonal maintenance shutdowns have left the UK with only one big CO2 producer in action.

“We are currently responding to an industry-wide issue that is impacting the supply of CO2 in the UK.

Our focus is on limiting the effect this may have on the availability of our products,” said Coca-Cola.

“During this time we temporarily paused some of our production lines for short periods, however there has been no disruption to supply to date and we are continuing to fulfil orders to our customers.

We are working closely with our suppliers, partners and customers on a number of solutions as the situation develops.”

Last week, leaders of the UK’s food and drinks industry warned the crisis was so serious it could harm production and asked the government to prepare to prioritise supplies.

The Food and Drink Federation said it would affect much of the “farm-to-fork supply chain”.

The British Poultry Council (BPC) has warned that up to 60% of poultry processing plants could be knocked out “within days” as a result of the CO2 shortage.

Government officials have held talks with food industry representatives over how to manage the CO2 shortage.

The carbon dioxide shortage is impacting big brands and small enterprises as the soft drinks, beer and meat industries wait for CO2 for their businesses to operate amid low stocks across Europe.

A statement sent to FoodIngredientsFirst from Coca-Cola European Partners Great Britain said: “We are currently responding to an industry-wide issue that is impacting the supply of C02 in the UK.

Our focus is on limiting the effect this may have on the availability of our products.”

During this time we temporarily paused some of our production lines for short periods.

However, there has been no disruption to supply to date and we are continuing to fulfil orders to our customers.

We are working closely with our suppliers, partners and customers on a number of solutions as the situation develops.”