Company officials told the Cincinnati Enquirer that Kroger sold through its remaining Red Bull inventory in August and removed the brand’s coolers and displays from stores by the end of the month.
The retailer gave no public explanation for dropping the Austria‑based energy drink, while continuing to stock competing brands such as Monster, Alani Nu, Bloom, Rockstar and NOS.
The move coincides with Kroger’s chief executive publicly pledging to challenge supplier price hikes amid broader inflation pressures, though Kroger has not confirmed that pricing was the direct cause of the Red Bull removal.
Weeks before the nationwide pullout, shoppers posted on Reddit about a dispute, with one Atlanta user claiming their local Kroger would stop receiving Red Bull shipments in mid‑September due to price negotiations. The thread sparked broader complaints about Red Bull’s rising price tags.
Current public retail prices show a 12‑pack of 8.4‑ounce Red Bull cans listed at $23.98 on Walmart.com—about 23.8 cents per ounce—roughly double the cost per ounce of a 24‑pack of 16‑ounce Monster cans at $46.99 (12.2 cents per ounce).
When measured by caffeine content, an 8.4‑ounce Red Bull can (80 mg caffeine) works out to about $2.50 per 100 mg of caffeine, compared with roughly $0.89 for Celsius, $0.96 for Alani Nu, $1.11 for Monster and $1.25 for Ghost.
Consumers have responded by either switching to lower‑priced alternatives such as Ghost, C4 and Rockstar, or by planning to shop at other retailers that still carry Red Bull, highlighting the potential impact on both the brand’s sales and Kroger’s relationship with its customers.
The Post has sought comment from both Kroger and Red Bull but has not yet received a response.