Coca-cola is the latest company to be hit by supply issues which have affected major supermarkets, pubs and restaurants across the UK in recent weeks.

The global fizzy drinks manufacturer said it was facing a shortage of ‘aluminium cans’ due to a lack of lorry drivers.

It comes after social media users highlighted a scarcity of Diet Coke and Coke Zero products in recent weeks.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) said the popular drink will be missing from some supermarket shelves due to a shortage of HGV drives in the UK, as well as problems sourcing cans.

The bottling giant said that it has faced ‘a number of logistics challenges’ recently, but insisted it has continued to deliver ‘extremely high service levels’ and that its supply chain was working ‘flat out’ to meet demand.

Nik Jhangiani, chief financial officer of CCEP said: ‘Supply chain management has become the most important aspect following the pandemic, to ensure we have continuity for customers.

‘We are very happy with how we have performed in the circumstances, with service levels higher than a lot of our market competitors.

‘There are still logistical challenges and issues though, as with every sector, and the shortage of aluminium cans is a key one for us now, but we are working with customers to successfully manage this.’

The UK is facing a shortage of lorry drivers that haulage bosses have blamed on Covid and Brexit.

The government is facing calls for immigration rules to be changed to allow EU drivers to return.

The impacts are being felt on the food and drinks industry across the UK.

Yesterday, Wetherspoons said some of its pubs have run out of some beer brands because of supply chain issues.

Heineken and brewer Molson Coors said that like many in the industry, they had been hit by a shortage of HGV drivers.

And fast-food chains have also been hit, with Nando’s running short of chicken and McDonald’s having to stop serving milkshakes.

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