Due to Supply Chain Constraints…

Bloomberg reported in April of last year that Madagascar’s key vanilla-growing region has been hit with intense cyclones, stripping the pods from their vines.
Bloomberg reported in April of last year that Madagascar’s key vanilla-growing region has been hit with intense cyclones, stripping the pods from their vines.
Africa Studio at Adobe Stock

There’s a common joke in my family whenever a gift doesn’t arrive on time or there is an unexpected change in plans. We say, “Due to supply chain constraints, we’re going to dinner on Tuesday instead of Wednesday,” or “Due to supply chain issues, your birthday present will arrive sometime in the next two months.” It’s a catch-all that encompasses every possible situation.

The term “supply chain” has become a bit of a monolith in recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. But it truly is something that touches every industry and affects every single person who has ever purchased a consumer product. Your favorite chocolate bar might be increasing in price because the ingredients are harder to source. 

We know that climate change is having a significant impact on several supply chains: take vanilla as an example. Bloomberg reported in April of last year that Madagascar’s key vanilla-growing region has been hit with intense cyclones, stripping the pods from their vines. The cocoa supply has been hit with several challenges, from droughts to ethical labor concerns. The ingredients we love are becoming more scarce. 

So how do companies pivot when they’re faced with these constraints? Many companies are looking towards sustainable alternatives to these well-known ingredients so that they can keep making the products we love. Cargill partnered with Voyage Foods in the spring of 2024 to expand its portfolio of sustainable alternatives to cocoa-based products. Ingredion developed several ingredient solutions to replace the flavor and functional attributes of eggs to combat the recent price hike due to avian flu. Bunge launched its Beleaf PlantBettera as a plant-based butter alternative to address the volatility in butter pricing. There are so many other examples of companies using their creativity to address these problems.

While we hope that these supply chains will eventually reach a state of normalcy, the time to get creative with solutions is now. 


a Beleaf PlantBetter is a trademark of Bunge.

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