It doesn t mean you will have to forgo your favorite condiment just yet, but it could be possible at least for the next few months till manufacturers are able to meet demand. Thankfully, Heinz is working on doing just that, but it could be a while before we see the market return to normal.
Food delivery couriers wait in line at a McDonald s restaurant on March 8, 2021 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Getty Images)
America s ketchup crisis
The shortage was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, who found that managers are using generic versions, pouring out bulk ketchup into individual cups and hitting the aisles of Costco for substitutes. How did it get that bad? For starters, the closure of restaurants led to a collapse in demand for 20oz table-top bottles, but an increase in demand for 114oz cans. Analytics platform Plate IQ noted, steady demand for those larger cans created a sharp increase in price .