Can The Food Supply Chain Handle Another Ketchup Shortage?

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many issues with the supply chain, and these issues caused a ketchup shortage. Kraft Heinz has been struggling significantly with these shortages, causing a trickle-down effect on restaurants.

Voice of B2B, Daniel Litwin, talked with Christine Cochran, Executive Director of Grain Foods Foundation (GFF) and Ryan Richard, Vice President, Community Engagement of GS1 US on Marketscale TV. The trio talked about these issues and how the supply chain can be built with resiliency.

 

Long John Silver’s and Texas Roadhouse are among the restaurants seeing shortages of ketchup. Numerous other small and large eateries are also having issues with Kraft Heinz, as there have been issues with their production.  LJS reportedly had to spend an extra $500,000 on ketchup packets because they couldn’t use bottles on tables. Texas Roadhouse turned to wholesalers due to Kraft Heinz not being able to meet demand.

“It’s definitely driving the cost up, as that’s what we’re seeing out there in the industry,” Richard said.

This isn’t the first time restaurants have seen issues with the supply chain. One prominent example being the 2018 E-Coli scare in romaine lettuce. Heinz is increasing production up 25 percent to fight this shortage, which is around an extra 12 billion ketchup packets a year.

“We always look at our supply chains as agile, but what this is really demonstrating is how fragile these supply chains really are,” Richard said.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

 

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

DXpedition
Icom Powers 3Y0K : Ham Radio’s Most Ambitious DXpedition to Remote Bouvet Island Part 1
July 11, 2025

Bouvet Island sits at the edge of the world. It is frozen, uninhabited, and almost impossible to access. Fewer people have set foot there than in space. That level of remoteness is exactly what makes it so valuable to amateur radio operators. The island ranks tenth on ClubLog’s list of Most Wanted DXCC entities,…

Read More
entrepreneurial success
The Hidden Key to Entrepreneurial Success: Build Momentum Through Personal Branding and Authentic Networking
July 10, 2025

What if the biggest pivot of your career started with a conversation?  In this episode of Professional Quotient, host Jason Winningham welcomes Fanny Dunagan, CEO and Content Strategist of PathLynks, LLC. Fanny shares her journey from high-pressure consulting in Singapore to founding her own media and branding company — and why learning to network…

Read More
Q2 2025
RM Q2 2025 Wrap Up
July 9, 2025

Rogue Marketing continues to lead with intention in a space often driven by noise. Q2 2025 reflected a strategic focus on substance, where each initiative supported long-term brand growth. The team transformed internal recognition efforts into enduring brand assets and refined event strategies through immersive, results-driven experiences. Website launches during the quarter balanced visual…

Read More
amateur radios
Hamvention Spotlight: Emergency Preparedness Led PrepHam Paul to Amateur Radios and a Rising Voice in the Field
July 9, 2025

PrepHam Paul (K5VLP) celebrated his first visit to Dayton Hamvention by marking a major channel milestone. He hosted a giveaway of the  IC-2370B mobile radio from Icom to thank viewers for helping him reach 10,000 subscribers. His passion for emergency preparedness, rooted in his experience as an Eagle Scout and later studies in emergency management,…

Read More