Share
News

Thanksgiving Essentials Already Running Out of Stock

Share

Be sure to snatch up your Thanksgiving turkey, gravy and cranberry sauce as quickly as possible ahead of the holiday, because many stores are beginning to run out of stock.

Market research firm IRI is reporting that various popular Thanksgiving essentials are running low this year.

According to CNN Business, retailer supplies of frozen turkeys, packaged pies, liquid gravy and cranberry sauce are all lower than they were in 2020.

Typically, retailers typically want to have an in-stock rate of 95 percent, according to Krishnakumar Davey, the president of IRI’s strategic analytics practices.

Last year, retailers selling Thanksgiving essentials fell short of that goal, and this year, it looks like supply will be much worse.

Trending:
KJP Panics, Hangs Up in Middle of Interview When Reporter Shows He Isn't a Democratic Party Propagandist

During the first week of November in 2020, the national in-stock rate of whole bird frozen, fixed-weight turkeys was 86 percent. This year, that rate has fallen to 64 percent.

Other items have seen similar drops in supply.

The supply of packaged pie dropped from 78 percent to 68 percent, the availability of liquid gravy dropped from 85 percent to 73 percent and the in-stock rate of cranberry sauce sits at 79 percent this year, 10 points down from last year’s rate of 89 percent.

CNN Business attributed the dropping numbers to “supply chain ruptures and an unexpected spike in demand.”

Will you be celebrating Thanksgiving this year?

While most consumers will likely be able to buy most of their Thanksgiving essentials, many may be forced to spend more and substitute certain items for others.

Cranberry sauce may be one of the items consumers need to replace for Thanksgiving this year.

One of the largest producers of cranberry products, Ocean Spray, said “consumers may experience some availability issues at times on a variety of cranberry products” but doesn’t expect “significant impacts,” according to CNN Business.

Tony Sarsam, the CEO of food distributor SpartanNash, warned that roughly “a half a dozen classic holiday items” may be harder to find on grocery store shelves this year.

Those items include turkey, pie, frozen pie shells, liquid gravy and cranberry sauce.

Related:
Thanksgiving Week Travelers Could Run Into Headaches Due to Projected Storms Across Country

Sarsam also warned that other items popular in holiday baking — including cream cheese, whipped cream and butterscotch chips — may be in short supply as well.

There is some good news for shoppers hoping to prepare for the holiday, however.

Many major turkey processors are claiming that, despite early out-of-stocks, they will be able to fill shelves in time for Thanksgiving.

“We can affirm that there will be Butterball turkeys available in stores this season,” Butterball spokesperson Christa Leupen said, according to CNN Business.

Daniel Sullivan, a spokesperson for the major turkey producer and processor Cargill, is also “confident there will be an ample supply of turkeys for Thanksgiving this year throughout the US.”

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , , ,
Share
Michael wrote for a number of entertainment news outlets before joining The Western Journal in 2020 as a staff reporter. He now manages the writing and reporting teams, overseeing the production of commentary, news and original reporting content.
Michael Austin graduated from Iowa State University in 2019. During his time in college, Michael volunteered as a social media influencer for both PragerU and Live Action. After graduation, he went on to work as a freelance journalist for various entertainment news sites before joining The Western Journal in 2020 as a staff reporter.

Since then, Michael has been promoted to the role of Manager of Writing and Reporting. His responsibilities now include managing and directing the production of commentary, news and original reporting content.
Birthplace
Ames, Iowa
Nationality
American
Education
Iowa State University
Topics of Expertise
Culture, Faith, Politics, Education, Entertainment




Conversation