The coronavirus outbreak has disrupted Coca-Cola’s supply chain, according to the company’s annual report.
COVID-19 has delayed the production and exports of the artificial sweeteners used to make the brand’s diet and zero-sugar sodas, CNN reported.
The company is currently relying on alternative supply chains to keep up with demand, but this is only a short-term solution, according to Fox News.
“We may see tighter supplies of some of these ingredients in the longer term should production or export operations in China deteriorate,” the report said.
Coca-Cola did not specify which sweeteners are being affected, but the company referred to sucralose — the sugar substitute better known as Splenda that is sourced from China — as a “critical raw material” in making Diet Coke and Powerade Zero, CTV reported.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has already impacted the company financially, according to Yahoo! News. Coca-Cola executives recently released a statement to investors detailing their expectations for decreased stock earnings and revenue as the situation continues.
The company also said it is taking measures to ensure the safety of its employees in China by providing materials for proper screening and sanitation, as well as donating to organizations that support patients and contain the virus.