Summer Is Peak Restocking Time for Outdoor Soda Vending Machines.

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, July, 2003

By John Yantis, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jul. 12--Scorching summer heat translates to sizzling sales at outdoor soda vending machines, cola makers and grocery stores said Friday. Thirsty, hot buyers are more likely to grab a beverage from machines parked at schools, ball fields or outside of stores or hotels, industry employees said.

At Coca-Cola Co., summer months mean constant restocking of an estimated 8,000 vending machines in the Valley, said Toney Anaya, a company spokesman. Demand is so high, the company adds employees to keep pace, he said. "Use goes up about four times during the summer months on outside machines," he said. "It's generally water and Powerade."

At the Pepsi Bottling Group,...