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11 Grocery Shortages You May See in 2023

Many of us experienced shortages in the supply chain for the first time in 2020. However, for various reasons, we continue to see food shortages.

empty grocery shelves

This article includes a list of foods most likely to be affected by shortages and why they are expected to be more scarce this coming year.

If there are any food items on this list that you regularly purchase, you may want to adjust your shopping list. Be sure to pay attention to any rules your grocery store may have before bulk buying. 

Let’s look at the top food items most likely affected by food shortages in 2023. 

Bread

You might see less bread on the shelf this year, likely due to the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine is one of the world’s top grain producers, and with the country’s grain exports down 60%, we will likely feel the effects of this very soon.

Thankfully, making bread at home isn’t too tricky. Making bread at home is often cheaper and healthier if you can find the ingredients.

Check out our favorite German bread recipes here


Beer

Supply chain issues dating back to pre-pandemic times and rising inflation costs have experts projecting beer to be more expensive and less accessible in 2023.

Combine that with droughts affecting crop yields and a CO2 shortage, which spells trouble for brewers and beer lovers alike. 


Canned Food

Canned food seems like a go-to option to bulk up your emergency food storage, right?

Formerly, canned food was an affordable, shelf-stable option that provided food security during food shortages or emergencies.

However, there has been an aluminum shortage for a few years now, and the shortage has slowed production down and raised prices not only on canned food for humans but also for canned pet food. 


Champagne

The reason champagne made this list has to do with supply and demand. Champagne has seen a huge spike in demand since 2020.

This demand has been so large that suppliers cannot meet the need. This has to do with the fact that champagne needs years to perfect, and we are just starting to feel the effects of a great demand with a limited supply this year. 


Corn

Ukraine is also a large global corn exporter, and production has suffered due to the war.

Argentina, another larger corn exporter, has suffered a smaller yield this year.

Thankfully, the US is also a significant supplier of corn. Customers in the European Union typically rely on Ukraine and South American countries for their corn and will likely feel this shortage more harshly. 


Pet Food

Unfortunately, the pet food industry faces various factors interfering with production.

These factors include packaging shortages, such as the aluminum shortage. There is also difficulty procuring raw ingredients found in pet foods.

This, coupled with shipping problems, spells trouble for pet owners and pet food suppliers. 


Cooking Oil

Cooking oils, such as vegetable oils, are added to many of the goods we purchase.

Canada is the largest canola oil producer and had a very small crop yield last year.

Soybean oil, commonly grown in South America, also had a small crop produced this past year due to drought. 


Oranges

Orange production is down 51% due to Florida battling a tough hurricane year.

Unfortunately, bad storms wreaked havoc on many orange orchards down south, resulting in fewer oranges and orange products at the supermarket.

Dating back to records from 1913, this is the biggest hit to the orange crop the country has ever seen. 


Beef

Beef prices are expected to rise due to shrinking beef availability. With less availability, prices are expected to rise.

The availability issue may be partly due to the USDA forecasting the average American to eat 5.6% less beef this year, which would be the most significant loss since 1987.

Due to this shortage, you might purchase different beef cuts at the store.


Baby Formula

Perhaps the most stress-inducing food item on this list, the baby formula shortage, is expected to continue in 2023.

With a massive shortage due to contamination and production plants closing in 2022, another shortage may be coming due to high tariffs set to begin this year.

Domestic production of the formula is still down, so this could be a problem for supply. 


Eggs

Headlines about the price of eggs are everywhere right now, and for a good reason.

Egg prices have skyrocketed due to a shortage.

The bird flu is to blame for this shortage, as it wiped out a significant laying hen population. This flu has affected more than 57 million birds around the globe. 

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  1. If there is a shortage on bread due to grain supply how do you expect people to make their own at home? That requires the same grain that bread manufacturers use…

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Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

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