Random shortages in shops

[ArtAngel]

Has anyone else noticed things disappearing from shop s for weeks or months at a time?

Currently I cannot buy
Walnuts in Lidl - the Alesto brand, missing for about 2 months now
Ground single origin coffee - missing for a month in Lidl
The Waitrose sardines in the pretty tin - with lemon or chilli etc - missing on and off for months
Clear (non-coloured) sensitive washing up liquid - missing in Sainsburys, Tesco for weeks

yes
and eggs
and hazelnuts
and organic sunflower oil

the last couple of years have been challenging for farmers due to bad weather. and conflicts. and disease (bird flu).

Tesco was washing up liquid, broccoli, frozen peppers and bananas. Presently its been stuffing and eggs and onions.

Raspberries not been able to get them in aldi for weeks

No bananas available at all on my online Sainsbury’s shop.

It's been happening for years now, since Covid. I use Ocado, Waitrose and Aldi, items disappear and you never know if it's for a fortnight or you'll never see them again.

I've had no trouble getting raspberries or bananas in the past few weeks though.

Caesar dressing, cheese coleslaw.

Waiting for contact lenses for ages

Fish stock cubes
Brazil nuts

That may be because they are not in season.

Black beans

You are all aware of rather significant geopolitical upheaval around the globe, I hope? Food shortages are an extension of that.

For me shopping in online Tesco shortages have been sardines in tomato sauce, Tesco brand washing up liquid, Stockwell & co tea bags. Seedless black grapes, dry semolina, golden king potatoes. I'm furious about the tea bags because I really like them and they've been gone for weeks and now I have none over of my stash.

Loads off free range eggs available in online Tesco . I buy St Ewe golden yolks and they are on offer just now.

Still space for them on the shelves, just not there. You could definitely buy them a few weeks ago.

It’s not the season for pretty much any fruit in the UK and yet we can buy them!

I think most of us are, thanks.

Sunflower products from Ukraine, nuts from the ME, etc all likely to be affected.

Not sure about clear washing up liquid. Or sardines.

Lots of things missing since before Iran.

And we can still comment.

I bought walnuts in Lidl this morning. Firstly, check that they haven’t moved them cos our lidl does that all the time. Secondly, check the packaging because today mine had the usual bag but also a see through plastic box

Cooking oil is one of the things that's had a double whammy. First, a disease affecting huge numbers of olive trees, and then the war in Ukraine, the world's largest grower of sunflowers.

It must be regional as I was in my local Tesco yesterday and they had plenty of those products you've mentioned.

I've noticed that my Tesco (not a superstore) has got rid of a lot of products recently and won't be restocking them. I wonder if it's to keep prices down to not have such a wide range, especially if it's not a popular product.

Fruit tea bags in Aldi....my dad loves them but unavailable for months now

I noticed this with tinned coconut milk a few weeks ago too. Couldn't seem to get it anywhere

Dill. Sainsbury did not deliver them so I went to Lidl. They didn’t have stock either. I went to Lidl three days later and no dill again.

We had no Pecan nuts in Lidl for ages then they reappeared. Their French blend coffee went missing for weeks and we had to go to M&S for it, but then it reappeared. I tried another type, but couldn't really taste anything.

Yes. White Zinfandel in Aldi and spreadable cheese gone forever!

With some lightheartedness, I'm adding Ocado's 'Red Bull' stock gaps to the thread 😏

The global supply chain is way more fragile than you might realise. This, combined with labour issues, war, and climate change making freak weather events, means that we're probably never going to see the unlimited abundance that we've seen from ~1990-2019.

It's likely only going to get worse, so prepare to stock up when you can afford to, and be flexible when what you want isn't around. For most of human history we've eaten in a boring and seasonal manner, and we might have to learn to do it again.

If you've got outdoor space, you might want to start growing you own herbs, berries, and salad leaves at the least.

Yeah, for years now. Basically the 2020s.