Higher prices for Coca-Cola products have forced supermarkets in Switzerland to replace their brands or buy them from overseas, a new report has revealed. One retailer has even broken off negotiations with the US drinks giant, over complaints that it charges Swiss companies too much.
According to reports in the Swiss media, last week, discount supermarket Denner broke off its negotiations with the Coca-Cola company. CEO Torsten Friedrich told Blick that the company “didn't renew orders with the Swiss Coca-Cola bottler”.
Instead, Denner will purchase its Coca-Colas, Fantas and Sprites from Germany, before importing and selling them across the cantons. They explained that Swiss-made Coke, Fanta and Sprite, made in the suburbs of Zurich, were priced far too high compared to prices overseas.
This is not the first time Denner has decided to boycott Swiss-made Coca-Cola. In 2014, the company bought its goods from Czechia, before the drinks giant caved and lowered the price.
In Migros, shelves originally stocked with Fanta and Sprite are now regularly left empty, with a sign explaining that they are still in negotiations with the supplier. While the company said they cannot be exactly compared, they now stock Uludağ Gazoz, a Turkish alternative to the American brands.
Though less open about their struggles with Coca-Cola, RTS reports that other retailers are taking the company to task about how much they charge businesses in Switzerland. Aldi has admitted to having difficult discussions with the company, while Coop has started to import its Coca-Cola from Poland, though it and Lidl are still negotiating with the company.
In response to RTS, Coca-Cola refused to comment on its price negotiations. They emphasised that 80 percent of its drinks sold in Switzerland are produced locally, generating a turnover of 800 million francs.
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