Supplies of Lucozade drinks have improved since widespread shortages reported earlier this year, but some gaps in availability remain ahead of Christmas.
Of 159 Lucozade SKUs listed across the traditional ‘big four’ mults and Waitrose on 9 May, 115 products were in stock, according to Assosia data. By this week, the number of the same SKUs available had climbed to 130 [Assosia w/c 9 December].
Products to have returned having previously been unavailable include Lucozade Energy Orange 24x330ml in Morrisons, Lucozade Energy Caribbean Crush 4x380ml and Lucozade Energy Cherry 4x380ml in Waitrose, Lucozade Energy Blue Burst 500ml in Sainsbury’s and Lucozade Sport Drink Blue Force 4x500ml in Asda.
However, some gaps in availability remain. Lucozade Energy Apple Blast 4x380ml, Lucozade Energy Original 4x380ml and Lucozade Energy Wild Cherry 4x380ml have been out of stock in Asda since 22 November [Assosia].
Lucozade Energy Blue Burst 900ml and Lucozade Alert Tropical Burst Energy Drink 500ml, meanwhile, have been out of stock in Morrisons since 10 October and 16 September respectively.
The Grocer contacted Asda and Morrisons to ascertain if these SKUs had been delisted. Asda said it stocked the products in question, while Morrisons declined to comment.
Since the summer, supply levels had “significantly improved” across all Lucozade lines, said Alpesh Mistry, sales director at Lucozade supplier Suntory Beverage & Food Great Britain & Ireland (SBF GB&I).
“Our Blucozade range is back doing well and has been going from strength to strength since supply recommenced,” said Mistry. “We are looking forward to continuing this momentum into next year with new launches, core brand innovation and significant marketing investment across our drinks.
“We’re grateful for the support and patience our customers have shown us this year and we’re looking to repay that faith with strong performance and growth in 2025,” he added.
Lucozade supplies were significantly disrupted earlier this year after a combination of industrial action and a fatality in April caused lengthy production shutdowns at a SBF GB&I factory in Gloucestershire.
The death of one of its workers at the facility in Colefield “compounded” supply issues already being faced in the wake of strike action in February, SB GB&I warned wholesalers in May.
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