Strange Shortages in 2021

Over the past year, we have experienced supply shortages in various groceries and products. There seems to be no consistency to what is, or has been, missing at the store and just thought it would be intresting to make a list to share. Unfortunately, I do not see a pattern, do you?

Picture of Empty Shelves
  • Jalapeno Cream Cheese
  • Potatoes
  • Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
  • Dr. Pepper (aluminum)
  • Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwiches
  • Spaghetti Noodles
  • Coffee Creamer
  • Appliances (Computer Chips)
  • Cars (Computer Chips)
  • Covid-19 tests
  • Lids for Starbucks Coffee
  • Christmas Lights
  • Carpet Deodorizer
  • Lysol
  • Mr. Clean
  • Bleach
  • Windex

Shortages are based on region, the item, and what the store buys in response to consumer trends. For instance, in talking to a cashier at Vons, I discovered that there is an aluminum shortage. The Escondido store does not sell as many Dr.Peppers as Coca Cola and Sprite, so they chose what sells more to stock their shelves.

An article online shows a completely different list than me and must be reporting from another part of the country: "15 Worst Grocery Shortages of 2021" by Steven John. He lists shortages of Chicken, Fish Sticks, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, Pet Food, Ketchup Packets, Oat Milk, Coffee, Lunchables, Marie Callender Pot Pies, Rice Krispy Treats, Spices, Oreos, Bottled Water, Canned Soups, and Liquor.

Another source predicts we will continue to have shortages in 2022 because of omicron, labor shortages, and weather.
"Grocery stores still have empty shelves amid supply chain disruptions, omicron and winter storms" by Kelly Tyko published on January 12, 2022 says that their readers are experiencing shortages in: Baby Formula, Cream Cheese, Aluminum, Pet Food, Chicken Tenders, Lunchables, Toilet Paper, Champagne, and Beer.