Noticed how, at a supermarket, you’ve struggled to find your favourite packet of potato chips recently?
Well, according to Potatoes South Africa (PSA), the shortage is not due to any lack in effort from supermarkets in keeping their shelves fully stocked at a time when snacks are in high demand.
Why is there a potato chips shortage in South Africa?
In a statement, Jano Bezuidenhout from PSA explained the shortage in potatoes does not necessary mean that the starchy vegetable is scarce. It is just extremely difficult to find high quality stock of the raw material for the likes of PepsiCo, who manufacture and supply Simba and Lays Chips, at this time.
According to a weekly data report issued by PSA for the period ending 17 December 2021, there are an average of 1.4 million 10kg bags of potatoes available for supply in South Africa. However, for potato chips makers, a large portion of what’s available in the market does not meet the standards required to produce high-quality products.
“So that’s where the shortage is currently in that specific cultivar. Because they need specific characteristics when they crisp or when they fry the potatoes. So for instance a processing cultivar will normally have dry matter or a high percentage starch in it,” Bezuidenhout said.
Moreover, John Stevenson, the Vice President for South Africa food and beverages at PepsiCo Sub-Saharan Africa told Business Insider that, more than likely, the supply shortage in the potato market is due to “frost conditions affecting crop yields.”
“Whilst those issues are largely behind us, we were left with very low inventory levels entering peak season festive demand with constrained supply as a result,” he said.
Supermarket giants nationwide have had to utilise alternative means to meet the high consumer demand for potato chips. However, it is very likely that you may not find your favourite flavour for a while.