Is there a cookie crisis on the horizon?
Not quite, but Pepperidge Farm is warning customers that some of its popular cookie varieties might be in short supply this holiday season.
The brand's parent company, Campbell Soup, just announced that its cookie division is facing a series of "supply constraints" that are slowing down the production of certain cookies, as first reported by Bloomberg.
Pepperidge Farm has faced an increased demand for its products during the coronavirus pandemic — 8.7% in the 13-week period ending on Nov. 1, according to the brand.
"Cookie demand has been through the roof for months now and we've been working around the clock to meet it," a Campbell's spokesperson told TODAY Food.
While consumer demand for cookies has been steadily increasing over the past few months, Pepperidge Farm has simultaneously faced labor shortages due to the pandemic, according to the company — and it's been hard to keep up with the demand of two of their most popular varieties.
"Our cookies with unique shapes, like the Bordeaux and Chessmen varieties, have been more impacted by supply constraints. They're very specific recipes, so because of demand, you might not be able to find as many of these specific varieties," the Campbell's spokesperson said.
Throughout the pandemic, Americans have been consuming a lot of cookies in general, and according to a new report from Top Data, the demand for cookies has increased 25% in recent months, with 1 in 5 Americans saying that they eat more than three cookies a day on average. The report's data also reveals that 32% of Americans eat 24 to 42 cookies a month, and 15.5% consume 48 to 66.
Despite supply chain issues, Pepperidge Farm said it plans to keep churning out the cookies as quickly and safely as possible.
"We've made these cookies for decades and we'll continue to make them," said the spokesperson. "There will be plenty of Pepperidge Farm cookies for Santa."
Pepperidge Farm is just the latest in a long string of food companies to report supply chain issues during the pandemic. Meat producers, in particular, have struggled to keep up with the rise in demand and at the onset of the pandemic, Tyson Foods warned consumers of meat shortages.
Over the summer, pizza lovers everywhere braced themselves for a pepperoni shortage as small pizza shops across the country began to report a rise in pepperoni prices and a tighter supply chain.
Items like toilet paper, hand sanitizer and disinfectant have been consistently hard to find through the pandemic, and by October, major household appliances, like refrigerators, dishwashers, dryers and microwaves, were also in short supply.
Mason jars, too, were in high demand this fall, as many Americans began to pick up the hobby of pickling to avoid food waste and trips to the grocery store.
Chrissy Callahan
Chrissy Callahan covers a range of topics for TODAY.com, including fashion, beauty, pop culture and food. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, watching bad reality TV and consuming copious amounts of cookiedough.
FAQs
Pepperidge Farm has faced an increased demand for its products during the coronavirus pandemic — 8.7% in the 13-week period ending on Nov. 1, according to the brand. "Cookie demand has been through the roof for months now and we've been working around the clock to meet it," a Campbell's spokesperson told TODAY Food.
What happened with Pepperidge Farm? ›
A subsidiary of the Campbell Soup Company since 1961, it is based in Norwalk, Connecticut. On January 18, 2023, the company announced plans to close its Norwalk headquarters, consolidating jobs held there to Campbell Soup Company headquarters in Camden, New Jersey.
Are Pepperidge Farm cookies smaller than they used to be? ›
Several varieties of Pepperidge Farm cookies have been reduced in size repeatedly over the years.
Can Pepperidge Farm cookies be frozen? ›
Proper Storage Techniques. The longevity of Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies is significantly influenced by how they are stored. To maintain their freshness and flavor, specific techniques at room temperature, in the refrigerator, and in the freezer are recommended.
What is the best selling packaged cookie in the United States? ›
Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co. But did you know Oreos are a copycat product?
Why is there a cookie shortage? ›
The shortage was caused by a confluence of factors, including supply chain disruptions, shipping delays, and a decrease in the number of Girl Scouts selling cookies due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Was Pepperidge Farm bought out? ›
Campbell Soup Company, one of the largest and most highly respected food companies in North America, acquires Pepperidge Farm in 1961.
Does Kraft own Pepperidge Farm? ›
Pepperidge Farm was founded in 1937 by Margaret Rudkin, a Connecticut homemaker and entrepreneur, and has been wholly owned by Campbell Soup Company since 1961. The company's products are produced at eight manufacturing facilities across the United States.
Is Hanky Panky bread being discontinued? ›
The news from Pepperidge Farms comes after a Twitter user asked the company if they were still selling the bread after she hadn't seen it on store shelves for months. Hi Chey. Unfortunately, this has been discontinued. We hope that you can find another favorite among our products!
What kind of cookies keep the longest? ›
Shortbread and shortbread cookies: These keep for at least 1 month. Springerles: These should be made 2 weeks before serving and they keep for several months.
Our newsgroup all agreed that homemade chocolate chip cookies are better because you can change the recipe and make it your own. We also like the chewiness in the middle and the crunchiness on the borders.
Why are Pepperidge Farm cookies named after cities? ›
Pepperidge Farms founder Margaret Rudkin began the tradition of naming cookies after cities during her trip through Europe aboard the Queen Mary. The trip resulted in the European Collection, which includes fan-favorite cookies like Brussels, Bordeaux, Geneva and Milano.
What cookies should you not freeze? ›
Do not freeze frosted, glazed or drizzled cookies because they can become too moist under the frosting, glaze or drizzle. Thaw the cookies in the plastic food container at room temperature. Remove from container any cookies that should be crisp when thawed.
Why put cookies in freezer before baking? ›
As little as 30 minutes in your fridge or freezer can help your cookie brown better, spread less, and develop a richer chewy texture. There's a few reasons why, but one important part is it gives the butter in your dough a chance to firm up before baking.
Do frozen cookies expire? ›
Bakery or homemade cookies can be stored at room temperature two to three weeks or two months in the refrigerator. Cookies retain their quality when stored in the freezer for eight to 12 months. Moist bars, such as cheesecake and lemon bars, can be refrigerated for seven days.
Why are cookies disappearing? ›
The disappearance of third-party cookies is closely related to increasingly stringent privacy regulations. Users are becoming more and more concerned about their privacy and how they are tracked on the internet. Governments are also expressing concerns about this issue.
Is Pepperidge Farm still around? ›
From our beginning in Margaret Rudkin's kitchen in 1937 to today, Pepperidge Farm has changed a great deal, but one thing has never changed, our commitment to quality. It's a tradition that began with our entrepreneurial founder, and proudly continues to this day.
Why are store bought cookies hard? ›
Cookies become hard when the moisture in them evaporates. This can be caused by leaving them out in the air for too long, baking them for too long, or storing them improperly. The lack of moisture makes the cookies hard and dry, which makes them difficult to enjoy.
