business

Coca-Cola to raise prices in Japan for first time in 27 years

13 Comments
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24

Since 1993, Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan has held prices steady on its products, with the only increases coming in the form of additional sales tax when the Japanese government has increased rates.

That amazing streak is about to end, though. On Jan 1, Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan released a statement, saying: “Recently, our distribution costs have been soaring, and the prices of our products’ ingredients have been increasing as well. We had intended for our company to absorb these increased costs through company-wide efforts at improving production and operation efficiency. However, the current conditions have made that extremely difficult, and so we will be revising the prices of a portion of our product lineup.”

Starting with shipments scheduled for April 1 (which corresponds with the start of the business year at many Japanese companies), Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan will be raising the suggested retail price for plastic bottles of Coca-Cola with a size of 1.5 or two liters by 20 yen. That will shift the price of the 1.5-liter bottle from 320 to 340 yen, and the two-liter bottle from 340 to 360. Sprite, Canada Dry, Fanta, the juice-based soft drink Qoo (all distributed by Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan) will experience identical price bumps.

However, buying soda in bulk is far less common in Japan than it is in the U.S. Since single-serving sized cans and bottles, like the ones commonly bought from vending machines and convenience stores in Japan, will be unaffected, the price hike for Coca-Cola itself might not put much of a dent in that many individual consumers’ wallets. On the other hand, Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan will also be raising prices on 1.5-liter or larger sizes for its Ilohas and Mori no Mizu Dayori bottled water lines, as well as its popular Ayataka and Sokenbicha bottled green teas, which many families and offices buy and keep on hand as staple drinks.

Still, at least if you’re grabbing a quick drink to guzzle at the train station, one of the company’s limited-edition, just-for-Japan versions like peach Coca-Cola, or a beautifully decorated Japan-sightseeing Coke bottle, it’ll be just as affordable as ever.

Sources: Kyodo via Otakomu, Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan via IT Media

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Coca-Cola’s new limited-edition Japan travel destination bottles highlight history and culture

-- Coca-Cola Company releases new line of alcoholic drinks in Japan, and we’ve tried it

-- Peach Coca-Cola coming to Japan in a world-first for the company

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

13 Comments
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Never paid 320 yen for a 1.5 liter bottle of Coke. Always been 130 to 160 yen depending on the supermarket. Where do they sell them at these prices?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Never paid 320 yen for a 1.5 liter bottle of Coke. Always been 130 to 160 yen depending on the supermarket. Where do they sell them at these prices?

1.5 liter bottles are that expensive in convenience stores. I never saw anyone buy them though.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Yeah with all the variance in price between stores as it is I doubt I'd even notice the 20 yen difference if I was to buy it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I don't buy soft drinks but I do appreciate that the price of beer hardly ever changes.  Whereas in many western countries it rises each year or so as a source of tax revenue.   Long may it last!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Hold on a sec. If the main reason for raising the price is soaring distribution costs then shouldn't pretty much every similar product be going up. Scary thought. Or is it cost because coke can. We shall see.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Didn't Abe go around asking Companies to pay their Employees more so that they could afford to pay the Government it's Consumption rate increase to 10% ? Wonder if that has something to do with the increased costs ?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Seems like the last 5 years the price of vending machine Coke has remained at 130 yen and 160 yen.

All over the country from Tokyo to Nagasaki.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

20 yen up? It doesn't seem that bad. I drink one whenever I want.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan loves US Products and even better marketing there.

But Japanese products in US, do Americans even care? Most of them never even heard of it or don't bother at all.

Japan needs its products to be recognised in foreign countries.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

sugar ladened soda drinks

Isn’t it HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) in Japan? I always get a few Mexican cokes back in the states cuz they use sugar, and are offered at most big grocery stores. In Japan, I get the small glass bottles, have one about once every 3 months.

Japan needs its products to be recognised in foreign countries

Your talking processed foods or restaurants right? Sushi is huge. I’ve seen Pocky at the grocery stores in the States.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I thought that prices for a 1.5 liter Coca Cola bottle and Pepsi Cola had gone down. I recently bought a case at 108 yen a bottle at OK. Vending machines are convenient, but way too expensive.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Since 1993, Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan has held prices steady on its products

I think 1993 was about the last time I bought a bottle of these sugar ladened soda drinks.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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