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HomeAUUnveiled: The Unexpected Factor Behind Nationwide Supermarket Shelf Shortages

Unveiled: The Unexpected Factor Behind Nationwide Supermarket Shelf Shortages

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The rise of viral food trends, like the Biscoff cheesecake phenomenon, has led to a noticeable scarcity of yogurt on supermarket shelves.

“It’s a constant battle for us to keep up with the trends because they’re so fast-moving,” Coles development chef and ambassador Michael Weldon said.
Weldon said the viral Japanese cheesecake saw yogurt sales "go through the roof".
Weldon said the viral Japanese cheesecake saw yogurt sales “go through the roof”. (Nine)
Michael Weldon, Coles Development Chef and Ambassador
Coles development chef and ambassador Michael Weldon. (Nine)
”The viral Japanese cheesecake has gone a bit crazy.

“Our yogurt sales have skyrocketed,” a spokesperson commented, highlighting the impact of these trends.

Cottage cheese also boomed by 68 per cent in the first half of the financial year.

While some trends are driven by flavor, others, like the Clinkers craze, are more about playful challenges. This particular trend caused a significant shortage of the chocolate treat.

Participants engaged in a social media challenge where they would commit to an action if they correctly guessed the color of the Pascall Clinker they were about to eat.

“Back in September, we observed a remarkable surge in Clinkers’ popularity, with sales doubling compared to the previous year,” said Weldon, reflecting on the trend’s impact.

Purpose built supermarket test kitchens now existing to chase and evolve social trends.
Purpose-built supermarket test kitchens exist to chase and evolve social trends. (Nine)
Social media trends are now physically emptying supermarket shelves.
Social media trends are leading to supermarket shelves being emptied. (Nine)

Supermarkets and brands are looking to capitalise on the popularity of the products.

Purpose-built supermarket test kitchens are chasing and evolving social media trends.

”We have a team here who’s concentrating on looking at what the next big thing is,” Woolworths head of commercial rewards Jessica Loader said.

“They’re working in our innovation kitchens, they’re looking at trends in restaurants and around the world.”

“Off the back of trends, we’ll develop products to match those trends,” Weldon said.

“Shaker Salads has just launched a viral trend at the back of that classic cucumber salad in the Big Shaker Tubs.”

The big supermarkets are already predicting the next big thing.

”The next big thing: fibre,” Loader said.

“Dumpling lasagna, that one has taken off in the last couple of weeks.”

“They’re calling it ‘swavoury’: sweet and savoury,” Weldon said.

“Who knows that could be the next one.”

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