Why This Simple Supermarket Item Is Hard to Find Anywhere

A popular supermarket item is becoming increasingly difficult to find, leaving shelves empty and shoppers scrambling. The unexpected shortage has led to a surge in demand, causing retailers to struggle with supply. Consumers are rushing to stores like Coles and Woolworths to get their hands on this in-demand product, sparking widespread discussions on its scarcity across the country.

A recent food trend has caused a basic supermarket item to become nearly impossible to find on shelves, leaving many shoppers in search of it. The item in question is cottage cheese, which has become highly sought after due to its central role in a popular recipe that recently went viral on TikTok. The recipe in question is the Hot Honey Sweet Potato Beef Bowl, which has been shared by various content creators, including Michael Finch and Danielle Mitchell. The dish has caught the attention of TikTok users, skyrocketing in popularity and triggering a surge in demand for cottage cheese.

This sudden demand has caused cottage cheese to fly off the shelves at supermarkets across the country. Tina Provis, a well-known personality from the recent season of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, shared her frustration on social media when she could not find any cottage cheese at her local supermarket. Provis expressed her disbelief, saying, “I just got all the ingredients for that viral sweet potato beef bowl. Are we joking? Have we really sold out cottage cheese over this?”

Provis was not alone in her struggle to find the dairy product. Many other customers took to social media to share their frustration at not being able to find cottage cheese. One shopper humorously blamed Michael Finch, one of the content creators behind the viral trend, for the shortage. “OMG I literally went to three supermarkets today for it! I blame Michael Finch hahaha,” one user wrote. Others echoed similar sentiments, expressing annoyance at the scarcity of cottage cheese, which they regularly use in their meals. “It’s honestly so annoying for us who use cottage cheese on the regular before this viral bowl,” one shopper commented.

One particularly dedicated customer went as far as visiting five supermarkets in search of cottage cheese, saying it was “indeed worth it.” Meanwhile, another person joked, “Is this why I couldn’t get any cottage cheese yesterday?” It’s clear that the demand for cottage cheese has surged in a way that has caught many off guard, with supermarkets struggling to keep up.

The increased demand for cottage cheese has not gone unnoticed by the major supermarket chains. A spokesperson from Coles confirmed to news.com.au that cottage cheese has indeed become harder to find recently, but they reassured customers that the situation is improving. “We know that cottage cheese has had a massive boost in its popularity over the past year, with healthy high-protein, low-fat snacks trending on social media,” the spokesperson said. The supermarket chain acknowledged that demand has outpaced supply, with cottage cheese tubs flying off the shelves faster than they can be restocked. However, they assured customers that supplies are steadily improving, and more cottage cheese will be available on the shelves as the trend continues to grow.

Woolworths, another major supermarket chain, echoed this sentiment, attributing the surge in cottage cheese demand to both health-conscious consumers seeking high-protein, low-fat options and the viral trend spreading across social media. “We have seen an increased demand for cottage cheese from our customers,” a Woolworths spokesperson said. They noted that some customers are turning to cottage cheese for health reasons, while others are drawn to its versatility in recipes, such as the viral Hot Honey Sweet Potato Beef Bowl. Woolworths is also working closely with suppliers to ensure the product remains available to meet the growing demand.

The viral recipe has not only caused a cottage cheese shortage but has also led to a surge in the popularity of other products, such as Mingle’s taco seasoning. Jordyn Evans, the founder of Mingle Seasoning, shared with news.com.au that their brand has experienced a significant boost in sales as a result of the viral recipe. “Since this trend has taken off last week, Mingle has had its best week ever in supermarkets, and we have sold out of our iconic Taco Seasoning in a majority of supermarkets,” Evans said. He highlighted the power of TikTok in driving sales for small businesses, pointing out that customers are eager to recreate viral recipes immediately after discovering them on social media.

Evans also shared that this is not the first time a social media trend has driven a surge in sales for Mingle Seasoning. Earlier this year, the brand saw a similar increase in demand after viral meal prep-style content featuring their recipe bases gained traction. Last year, their Everything Bagel Seasoning saw a similar spike in sales following the viral cucumber salad trend. The ability of TikTok and other social media platforms to influence consumer behavior has become a powerful force in the food industry, with trends like the Hot Honey Sweet Potato Beef Bowl driving immediate and significant increases in product sales.

In conclusion, the viral success of the Hot Honey Sweet Potato Beef Bowl has caused cottage cheese to become a hot commodity, leading to shortages at supermarkets across the country. The trend has also benefitted other brands like Mingle Seasoning, demonstrating the influential role that social media, particularly TikTok, plays in shaping food trends and driving consumer demand. As more and more people seek to recreate viral recipes, supermarkets are working hard to restock shelves and meet the increased demand.

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Source: news‍