Since Philadelphia’s 1.5-cent-per-ounce tax on sweetened beverages took effect Jan. 1, supermarkets and distributors are reporting a substantial drop in beverage sales, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Canada Dry Delaware Valley, which distributes about 20% of the city’s soft drinks, said sales were down 45% in Philadelphia. It planned to lay off 20% of its workforce in March. Also, PepsiCo has pulled 2-liter bottles and six-packs off store shelves, calling them too expensive.
Jeff Brown, CEO of Brown’s Super Stores, which manages six ShopRite stores in the city, said beverage sales were down 50% from Jan. 1 to Feb. 17 compared with the same period in 2016.