Wholesale Coca-Cola: The Complete Buyer’s Guide for C-Stores, Restaurants, and Events

Why stock Coca-Cola wholesale

Coca-Cola products are high-velocity items that drive traffic, basket size, and impulse purchases. Whether you run a convenience store, pizza shop, cafeteria, office micro-market, or a catering team, keeping core Coke SKUs in stock protects margin and increases attach rates with snacks and prepared foods.

Core benefits

• Proven demand and national brand recognition

• Strong promo elasticity for multi-buy deals

• Broad pack sizes for every channel

• Reliable shelf life and easy storage

Popular Coca-Cola wholesale formats

Choose formats based on your channel, cooler space, and velocity.

Cans and bottles

• 12 oz cans (24-pack cases): Top seller for c-stores, offices, and events. Efficient to chill.

• 20 oz PET bottles (24-pack): Ideal for coolers near the counter. Higher price point with strong single-serve margin.

• 16.9 oz bottle 6-packs and 8-packs: Great for small baskets and meal bundles.

• 2-liter bottles (6-pack): Family take-home and pizza night favorite.

Best sellers: Coca-Cola Classic, Diet Coke, Coke Zero Sugar, Sprite, Fanta Orange, Dr Pepper or local cola equivalent, plus water partners like DASANI and smartwater. Add Minute Maid, POWERADE, and Gold Peak where your shoppers skew toward teas and sports drinks.

Fountain syrup (bag-in-box)

For restaurants and venues with high traffic, BIB syrup cuts cost per serving and speeds service.

• Common sizes: 2.5-gal and 5-gal

• Pair with calibrated carbonator, correct brix settings, and food-grade CO₂

• Track yield and cups per case to manage food cost

Pricing and margin tips

• Anchor price with the 20 oz bottle, then ladder down value with 12 oz cans and up with premium waters.

• Multi-buy promos: 2 for $4 or 3 for $5 on 20 oz raises units without eroding margin when planned with vendor discounts.

• Attach rate: Place Coke next to pizza slice warmers, sandwich fridges, and snack endcaps.

• Seasonality: Load in extra cases before holiday weekends and local sports events. Rotate front-facing inventory daily.

Storage and rotation best practices

• Store between 34–70°F. Avoid direct sun and repeated temperature cycling.

• Use FIFO to keep code dates fresh. Front-face labels and pull forward daily.

• Keep 1.2–1.5 weeks of back stock for cans and bottles. Fountain syrup planning can run 2–3 weeks depending on lines.

• Clean fountain lines every 2 weeks to protect flavor and carbonation.

Planogram ideas that sell

• Eye level: 20 oz Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero Sugar, Sprite

• Middle shelf: Fanta, POWERADE, Minute Maid, teas

• Bottom shelf: multipacks and 2-liters

• Counter cooler: Top 6 singles plus smartwater for an easy trade-up

Pairing and cross-sell

• Pizza, burgers, wings, and nachos: offer a Coke combo for a simple add-on.

• Salty snacks near the cooler: potato chips, jerky, and pretzels lift beverages.

• Desserts: promote Coke floats with soft-serve or vanilla cups.

Replenishment playbook

1. Build a weekly order guide with your top 20 SKUs.

2. Track sales by daypart and weather to forecast spikes.

3. Set par levels per location or cooler.

4. Use a standing order for cans and add bottles based on weekend events.

5. Audit code dates twice a week and rotate.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Coca-Cola last?
Unopened cans and bottles typically carry 6–9 month code dates. Store cool and dry. Use FIFO.

What are common deposit states?
CA, CT, IA, MA, ME, MI, NY, OR, VT, HI have container deposits. Plan separate accounting for CRV where required.

Can I mix Coca-Cola with other brands on fountain?
Use dedicated syrup lines and labeled valves. Follow manufacturer specs and brix guidelines for each product.

How many servings are in a 5-gal syrup box?
Roughly 640 oz of syrup. At a 5:1 ratio that yields about 25 gallons of finished beverage. Your cup size determines final count.

What should I order first for a new location?
Start with 12 oz can cases of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Coke Zero Sugar, a water, and one orange flavor. Add 20 oz singles once cooler space is ready.

Quick checklist for buyers

• Define your top 12 SKUs and set pars

• Confirm deposit rules for your state

• Map cooler space and planogram

• Create monthly promos tied to meal bundles

• Schedule line cleaning if running fountain