Inside the cream cheese shortage as Kraft offers to PAY fans to buy replacement cheesecakes – and Cheetos vanish

PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese wants to make up for supply chain disruptions by paying fans to enjoy a different treat instead this Christmas. Kraft Heinz, Philadelphia’s parent company, is luring customers away from cream cheese by offering a $20 incentive to go without the spread. GettyPhiladelphia is offering $20 to customers to buy a different desert this Christmas[/caption] GettyCream cheese isn’t the only thing flying off the shelves – Cheetos are in hot demand too[/caption] The promotion will see 18,000 Philadelphia fans be gifted a $20 reimbursement if they can prove they bought a dessert or dessert ingredient between December 28 and January 4. On a first-come, first-serve basis, Kraft says 10,000 reservations will be made available Friday and 8,000 on Saturday to claim a digital reward. Terms and conditions state: “Buy any dessert — cookies, brownies, cupcakes — and Philadelphia will reimburse the cost to replace your homemade cheesecake up to $20.” The company is experiencing demand like never before but is only the latest to be caught up in a stream of pandemic-related supply issues. Labor shortages and transportation struggles are believed to be behind some of the challenges worsening supply chain issues for other products. Frito-lay’s signature snack, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, is reportedly in a shortage too. Most read in The Sun CUT IT OUT Keeper sent off BEFORE kick-off in final after VAR catches sick gesture to fans DOCTOR'S ORDERS I'm a doctor and these are the 5 Omicron symptoms you must NEVER ignore ROT IN HELL Killer LAUGHS as she's jailed for stamping Star to death - as mum gets 8 years KATE ESCAPE Katie Price SPARED JAIL over drink-drive crash that saw her flip BMW UNDER PRESSURE PM to hold press conference TODAY before Cobra meeting amid Omicron fear FALSE HOPE Here's why you might have Omicron even with NEGATIVE lateral flow tests On November 29, 2021, a Twitter account by the name of SAY CHEESE! posted about the rumored shortage. The wrote: “There’s a Hot Cheetos Shortage in the U.S right now. This shortage is mainly because of increased demand and tightening supply. “Some stores are putting limitations on how many you can buy.” There has been no confirmation from the Frito-Lay company on whether or not there is actually a shortage of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, or if the brand is discontinuing the snack. Kraft Heinz however said it is currently shipping 30-35 per cent more product to foodservice partners than a year ago and has been maximizing production to meet unprecedented demand. The company said: “Unprecedented demand has left cream cheese shelves in grocery stores noticeably empty as people continue to use cream cheese as an ingredient in easy desserts and recipes — and at breakfast time.” In a YouTube ad for the promotion, Philadelphia still encouraged flexing a sweet tooth this Christmas, but steered fans away from the cream cheese. GettyThe company is experiencing demand like never before[/caption] It said: “This year, turn that famous cheesecake into those famous brownies. “Share some cookies, anything that will make you feel anything in that cheesecake-shaped hole in your holiday heart.” Philadelphia marketing director Basak Oguz said their product has become an American favourite for the past 150 years. He said: “As we continue to see elevated and sustained demand, we want to want to ensure that there’s enough cream cheese for bagels, cheesecakes, and everything in-between,” Oguz said. “We’re excited to share that we’re investing millions of dollars so Philadelphia cream cheese will be available to anyone that wants it, wherever they like to shop, for the next 150 years and beyond.” Oguz told CNN that the company is investing millions on Philadelphia cream cheese to keep up with demand. Across December 17 and 18, customers can reserve a digital spot on SpreadTheFeeling.com to claim their reward. GettyPhiladelphia are urging sweet-toothed fans to pick another treat this Christmas[/caption]