According to news releases this week, an Eggo waffle shortage is likely to continue until mid 2010. Waffle-producing operations have been shut down at multiple production plants because of a variety of problems including bacterial contamination, rain, and facilities’ damage. The lack of the popular breakfast food on store shelves has caused quite a stir on the Internet and has been fodder for late night comedians.
The Kellogg company is working to address the waffle shortage, however: "We are working around the clock to restore Eggo store inventories to normal levels as quickly as possible," spokeswoman Kris Charles wrote in a public e-mail.
Consumer alerts have been issued to inform consumers about the waffle shortage and when customer might expect to see Eggos once again populating store shelves. Meanwhile, fans can meetup on Facebook Eggo Waffles Group and tweet Eggo concern on Twitter.
Curtailed Convenience Foods
Eggo Waffle Shortage Shouts "Leggo My Eggo, It's the Only One Left!"
Trend Themes
1. Convenience Food Shortages - The trend towards shortages in popular convenience foods presents an opportunity for innovative solutions in food sourcing, product packaging and distribution.
2. Brand Loyalty Shifts - The scarcity of well-loved brands such as Eggo Waffles may cause consumers to shift their brand loyalties, leading to new opportunities in brand advertising and product development.
3. Social Media Consumer Groups - Consumer groups and online forums have been instrumental in raising concerns about Eggo waffles - this is an opportunity to harness social media to create and manage online consumer support groups for other brands.
Industry Implications
1. Food Manufacturing - Food manufacturing industry players have a unique opportunity to innovate by addressing the problem of convenience food shortages in their respective operating markets.
2. Advertising & Marketing - Advertising and marketing agencies can take this opportunity to build creative marketing campaigns that tackle the challenges faced by brands dealing with product shortages.
3. Social Media Platforms - Social networks such as Twitter and Facebook can capitalize on this trend by creating hyper-targeted ads and support groups that help facilitate communication between consumers and brands during product shortages.