Huy Fong Inc., one of the world’s largest producers of spicy sauces in the Asian market, says it anticipates a severe shortage of its beloved Sriracha.
“Unfortunately, we can confirm that there is an unprecedented shortage of our products,” the company said in a statement. “We are still trying to solve this problem that has been caused by several spiraling events, including the unexpected failure of the spring chili crop.”
Although peppers have been in constant shortage since the early days of the Covid pandemic, Huy Fong warned in April that an even more severe shortage was occurring due to the harsh weather conditions affecting the quality of the peppers. The situation is “out of our control” and would adversely affect the manufacture and sale of Sriracha, the company said in an April 19 letter to distributors.
The company said it would not accept any new orders placed before September and that any orders placed before Labor Day would be fulfilled in the fall because it does not have the inventory to meet that demand. Huy Fong advised distributors not to “promise any product to customers unless you have the product in stock”.
“We look forward to a fruitful fall season and thank our customers for their patience and continued support during this difficult time,” Huy Fong said.
Production shutdown applies to Huy Fong’s Sriracha hot chili sauce, as well as its Chili Garlic and Sambal Oelek products.
So what does this mean for Sriracha fans?
Customers don’t take this news lightly. Some Sriracha fans have decided to stock up on their local grocery stores to prepare for their daunting, “spice-free” future.
Because this is the age of the Internet, which has caused a negative reaction. Other fans are angry with those spicy sauce hoarders, comparing them to those provided with toilet paper, hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes during the early days of the pandemic, only making the situation worse for other people and for themselves.
Sriracha, created in 1980 by Chinese immigrant David Tran, has hit the shelves of major retailers such as Target (TGT) and Whole Foods, and has been a consumer favorite since its inception. With the uncertainty of when it is more The popular Asian hot sauce will be fully stocked in stores, it may be time to find a hot sauce alternative.