Wednesday, July 22, 2026

PepsiCo Says Gatorade Hampered by Supply Shortages

  • PepsiCo is set to raise its prices.
  • The increase will offset the costs of supply chain issues.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

PepsiCo is set to raise its prices to offset the costs of supply chain issues, which include shortages of plastic bottles for Gatorade sports drinks. 

The food and beverage giant has dealt with higher transportation and commodity costs amid the pandemic and says it will likely integrate a price hike in the fiscal first quarter of 2022. Sales, however, remain strong. 

PepsiCo raised its full-year forecast for 2021 on Tuesday following an impressive third-quarter earnings report. Revenue jumped 11.6% year-over-year to $20.19 billion, surpassing Wall Street estimates of $19.39 billion.

It now expects total revenue this year to increase by 8%, up from a previous estimate of 6%.

  • Gatorade holds a 67.7% market share of the U.S. sports drink market, per Euromonitor.
  • The NBA renewed its official soft drink and chip partnership with PepsiCo earlier this year.
  • In its last major acquisition, the company acquired Rockstar Energy in March 2020 for $3.85 billion.  

NBA superstar LeBron James finalized a multiyear endorsement deal with PepsiCo in March, leaving Coca-Cola after 17 years in a move first reported by Front Office Sports. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

Despite supply chain setbacks, PepsiCo CFO Hugh Johnston told Reuters a shortage of products like Gatorade at supermarkets is not expected.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jonathan Vaughters Defends Late-Night Tour de France Drug Tests 

“Do you want the appearance of clean, or do you want clean and fair?”
Jul 19, 2026; Southport, ENG; Ryan Fox holds the Claret Jug after winning the The Open Championship golf tournament, as he is interviewed by NBC’s Mike Tiroco at Royal Birkdale.

All Four Golf Majors Saw TV Ratings Spike This Year

Sunday was The Open’s most-watched final round since 2022.

World Cup Ignites MLS Ticket Sales, but Ratings Stay Mostly Flat

Single-game ticket sales for the Philadelphia Union are up 218%.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez attend the annual Allen and Co. Sun Valley Media and Technology Conference at the Sun Valley Resort in Sun Valley, Idaho, U.S., July 8, 2026.

Jeff Bezos Reportedly May Join Bid for Liverpool Stake

A deal could value the Premier League club at roughly $6 billion.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

7/22/26 – World Cup Final Ratings, ESPN Layoffs, LeBron Waits, WFAN to SiriusXM

0:00

Featured Today

Tom's Watch Bar

Sports Bars Are Cashing In From Summer of Soccer

The World Cup has brought a windfall to America’s biggest sports bars.
Jun 16, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; France forward Michael Olise (11) controls the ball against Senegal during a Group I match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium
July 16, 2026

Where World Cup Stars Go to Customize Their Cleats

The world’s best players turn to a Scottish craftsman for perfect cleats.
July 10, 2026

What the World Cup Means to Erling Haaland’s Tiny Hometown

The tournament’s breakout star is from a rural Norwegian town.
July 10, 2026

Why So Many Media Outlets Are Rushing Into Sports

Sports coverage has ballooned in every corner of media.
Pillow Fight Championship
July 8, 2026

How Obscure Sports Get Mainstream TV Deals

For niche sports, getting on TV often matters more than getting paid.

Trail Blazers Slash Broadcast Team As Dundon Keeps Cutting Costs

The majority of Portland’s broadcast team has been laid off.
July 22, 2026

Jays, Leafs Owner to Put Stake in Sports Empire Up for Sale

The dominant Canadian entity continues to make large-scale moves.
Cam Newton and Ryan Clark share a laugh during ESPN First Take at Bethune-Cookman University during the show’s HBCU fall tour, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025.
July 22, 2026

5 Takeaways From ESPN’s Latest Layoffs

Ryan Clark, Cam Newton, and Karl Ravech were among those laid off.
Sponsored

Inside the EY 2026 Sports Engagement Index: The Real Map of American Sports Participation

EY’s latest index explores how shifting U.S. fan behaviors are expanding the definition of sports engagement.
July 21, 2026

World Cup Final Averaged More Than 66 Million Viewers

The final posted the largest U.S. television audience since the Super Bowl.
Feb 13, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; NBC Peacock play-by-play announcer Noah Eagle during an NBA All Star Rising Stars game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Exclusive
July 21, 2026

Noah Eagle Expected to Call Netflix NFL Australia Game

The Sept. 10 matchup will feature the Rams and 49ers.
Inglewood, CA - May 5, 2026 - NFL Los Angeles Studio 1: The NFL Network Leaders in Conversation panel.
July 21, 2026

ESPN Layoffs Tied to NFL Network Acquisition: Full Tracker

Disney completed its acquisition of NFL Network earlier this year.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; The ESPN logo at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
July 21, 2026

ESPN to Lay Off Anchor David Lloyd, Analyst Stephania Bell

Lloyd had been with ESPN since 1997, while Bell joined in 2008.