By The FirstCandy manufacturer Hershey threw more cold-water on Americans hoping to return to normal this fall, saying they will not likely be able to “meet demand” for Halloween 2022.
“We will not be able to fully meet consumer demand,” for the October holiday, warned Hershey CEO Michele Buck.
From US News and World Report:
Hershey Co said on Thursday it would fall short of meeting demand for the all-important Halloween and Christmas holiday seasons this year, blaming a scarcity of raw ingredients and difficulties in securing suppliers.
Pandemic-induced global supply chain disruptions and the Russia-Ukraine war have crunched supplies of cocoa, edible oil and other food ingredients, pinching production lines of packaged food companies around the world.
Hershey Chief Executive Officer Michele Buck said those issues, along with the company’s focus on meeting demand during non-holiday periods, would lead to a likely shortage during Halloween, but added that sales will still top last year.
The period around the Halloween holiday in October is Hershey’s busiest time of the year, making up about 10% of the company’s annual sales, as kids and their parents stock up on Twizzlers, Jolly Ranchers and Kit Kat bars.
