Inflation bites soft-drink makers

Heavyweight producers of non-alcoholic beverages say about half of their sales now come from either no-sugar or low-sugar versions, but inflation in input costs and packaging is pressuring margins with the cost of recycled PET plastic used in bottles up fivefold compared with two years ago.

Big players in Australia such as Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Asahi and PepsiCo are all facing the same pressures.