NYC supermarkets struggling to stock Coke products due to driver shortage

A supermarket owner in New York told Fox Business that he is having a hard time getting Coca-Cola products due to the truck driver shortage.

The owner of the supermarket chain Gristedes told reporters that Coca-Cola “can’t get truck drivers to deliver into New York City.” Coke’s New York distributor, Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, then confirmed to Business Insider that it was struggling to hire truckers.

“Like many local employers around the New York City area, as well as employers across the country, we are currently navigating a disrupted supply chain and labor shortage among different departments, including our fleet management and delivery drivers,” a spokesperson for the company said.

Liberty Coca-Cola, like many companies trying to combat driver retention issues, is offering free CDL-A classes and certifications, offering sign-on bonuses to new recruits and investing in local facilities, according to Business Insider.

Other supply-chain disruptions are reportedly contributing to stocking issues in NYC. And UPS President Scott Price told reporters that supply problems will likely continue into 2022.

“I half-jokingly tell people, ‘Order your Christmas presents now because otherwise on Christmas Day, there may just be a picture of something that’s not coming until February or March,'” he said.