Coca-Cola has discontinued the 500ml PET bottles in supermarkets and will now offer 350ml, 700ml, and 1500ml sizes instead.

Changes in the Coca-Cola Size Offering at Retail Stores

On March 25, it was announced that Coca-Cola's 500ml PET bottles would be discontinued in supermarkets, drugstores, and discount stores, with a shift to focusing on 350ml PET bottles, 700ml PET bottles, and large 1.5L PET bottles. This change has been a topic of discussion on social media. The 500ml PET bottles will still be sold in convenience stores as usual.

It seems natural to adjust the size offerings by retail channel, as Coca-Cola's research has shown clear numbers.

• People who buy at convenience stores or vending machines ⇒ Drink immediately = Immediate consumption
• People who buy at supermarkets ⇒ Take it home and drink it = Future consumption

That seems to make sense. According to a survey Coca-Cola conducted on where people buy and how they consume their drinks:

Convenience Stores

"Drink immediately" 70%
"Take it home and drink" 29%
"Other" 1%

Vending Machines

"Drink immediately" 90%
"Take it home and drink" 10%

Supermarkets

"Drink immediately" 27%
"Take it home and drink" 72%
"Other" 1%

It’s quite easy to understand.

According to Coca-Cola, the amount consumed at home tends to be less than immediate consumption outside, so they decided to offer the 350ml size as an ideal amount for consumption at home. Additionally, considering the decreasing number of children and smaller households, they have also introduced the 700ml size as a two-person option.

Is 500ml Too Small for Home Consumption?

From my personal perspective, it's difficult to finish a 500ml PET bottle alone. But for two people, 500ml (250ml per person) isn't enough.

This is where the 350ml and 700ml sizes come in, which feel like the perfect sizes. I think many people feel the same way. Even for families of 3–4 people, having a 1.5L bottle on hand is helpful, and this size offering in supermarkets is probably the right choice.

Energy Drinks: 500ml Is Too Much to Finish

By the way, when it comes to energy drinks, unless the flavor is particularly delicious or I'm extremely thirsty, I can't finish a 500ml-sized drink.

Lately, there’s been an increase in the availability of large 500ml energy drinks in Japan, but for me, the ideal amount is 250ml, or at most 355ml. While I understand the appeal of offering 500ml as a cost-effective advantage with big brands, I typically only buy this size for reviews. Otherwise, before I decide to buy it, I think to myself that I won’t be able to finish it, so I don’t buy it.

Since I usually buy in bulk, I tend to go for 250ml Red Bull or 355ml Monster Energy, sticking to my favorite flavors. I expect I’ll continue this trend moving forward.