Kroger Stops Selling Red Bull Energy Drinks

Red Bull has faced a notable setback—it’s no longer available at Kroger stores.

The grocery giant has decided to remove the energy drink from its shelves, including gas stations, in a move to take a firmer stance against rising supplier prices.

Kroger cleared out its remaining stock of Red Bull by the end of August, as confirmed by company officials.

Interestingly, Kroger hasn’t given a specific reason for discontinuing Red Bull while still keeping competing drinks like Monster and Rockstar on display.

This decision aligns with the supermarket chain’s commitment, voiced by its CEO, to tackle supplier price increases amid ongoing inflation.

While Kroger hasn’t explicitly stated that pricing issues led to the removal of Red Bull, signs of tension have been noted prior to the nationwide decision.

For instance, one shopper from Atlanta mentioned on Reddit that their local Kroger had stopped increasing Red Bull prices, suggesting ongoing negotiations with distributors.

Although the veracity of the Reddit account can’t be independently confirmed, others echoed similar experiences, reporting bare Red Bull shelves across various Kroger locations.

The conversation on Reddit quickly morphed into a discussion about dissatisfaction with the pricing of the popular energy drink.

Comments varied, with some users expressing that Red Bull shouldn’t be able to set prices without pushback, while others lamented that the prices have become unreasonable and greedy.

It’s worth noting that Red Bull already holds a significant price premium compared to many of its competitors. A 12-pack of 8.4-ounce Red Bull cans was recently priced at $23.98, roughly translating to 23.8 cents per ounce.

In contrast, a 24-pack of 16-ounce Monster cans was listed for $46.99, which breaks down to about 12.2 cents per ounce.

When comparing caffeine content, an 8.4-ounce Red Bull provides 80 milligrams, amounting to around $2.50 per 100 milligrams of caffeine. For comparison, Celsius prices out at around 89 cents per 100 milligrams, with other brands like Alani Nu and Monster following suit.

These price comparisons reflect specific retail situations rather than a nationwide average, and they can differ by numerous factors, including size and location.

While purchasing in bulk can reduce costs, this hasn’t stopped fans from expressing their frustration as Red Bull vanishes from one of the largest grocery chains in the U.S.

Some consumers indicated on Reddit that they might simply look for alternatives. One long-time Red Bull drinker mentioned they were already shifting towards Ghost and C4 due to price and availability, often highlighting promotions on rival drinks.

Conversely, others expressed their intention to find other stores selling Red Bull, underscoring the stakes for both Kroger and Red Bull if this situation extends.

Inquiries for comments have been sent to both Kroger and Red Bull.