'Thank you for your patience': Shortage of supermarket fridge staple enters its fourth month

Australia's ongoing Greek yoghurt shortage is entering its fourth month, with shoppers expressing their frustration at the ongoing situation.

There were no less than three Customer Notices at Coles in Baulkham Hills, Sydney, warning shoppers of the shortage, which was laid bare by the corresponding bare shelves.

"Due to ongoing supply challenges some Yoghurt products may be temporarily unavailable.

"We're working closely with our suppliers to replenish stock as quickly as possible, so you can keep enjoying your favourite varieties.

"Thank you for your patience as we work to restore full availability."

The notices refer to YoPro High Protein Vanilla Yoghurt, Coles Perform High Protein Greek Yoghurt, and Chobani yoghurt products, in particular High Protein and Natural varieties.

"Anyone know why Chobani is having a shortage all of a sudden? every time I go to see if it's in stock, it's not. It's been like this for over a week now???" one Redditor wrote.

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Many Redditors were quick to blame the current 'Japanese Cheesecake' TikTok trend involving single-serve containers of Greek yoghurt and biscuits such as Biscoff or Aldi's Speculoos.

The craze has taken off online and shows no signs of abating.

This, coupled with your typical beginning-of-the-year health kicks, has resulted in Coles and Woolworths shelves being stripped bare.

"Ugh, God damnit. I just want my nightly Greek yoghurt with berries," one Aussie shopper said.

Many others shared their pain at having to miss out on their morning, nightly or mid-afternoon yoghurt snack, due to the shortages.

"High-protein food across multiple food categories has seen unprecedented levels of growth over the past 12 months driven by growing health consciousness and ongoing trending social media content showcasing everything from protein-packed snack hacks to creative recipe ideas," a Coles spokesperson told nine.com.au.

"High-protein products proving popular include our Coles Perform High Protein Greek Yoghurt, approved by accredited sports dietitians, which has become one of the standout favourites among customers.

"Despite our suppliers increasing production to keep pace, current demand continues to exceed supply.

"We're working closely with our suppliers to increase availability so that our customers can enjoy these sought-after high-protein options as soon as possible."

A Woolworths spokesperson told nine.com.au: "Many people are actively seeking out foods that support their fitness and wellness goals.

"We have seen a sustained increase in customer demand for products with enhanced protein content, and this would appear to confirm the growing popularity of higher-protein diets.

"Products such as protein yoghurt pouches, for example, are quickly growing in popularity given their convenience as an on-the-go-snack. We've also seen increased demand for leaner red meat cuts.

"Our buying and product development teams are always focused on innovation to ensure we offer the products that meet the evolving needs of our customers.

"We will continue to track customer feedback and purchasing patterns to offer protein-rich foods where the demand exists, affordable, and easy to incorporate into daily diets, reinforcing our commitment to helping Australians live healthier lives."

Stock seems to be at its lowest in supermarkets at the end of the day, meaning those who grocery shop after work are leaving empty-handed.

However, it has also been reported stock varies wildly between locations, with inner-city supermarkets more likely to sell out rather than those in the suburbs.

"Had absolutely no issues at Woolies, and it's currently on special (the fit versions)," one said.

"I wisssssh we were having a shortage. Our store gets in so much every pallet load it's actually hell, especially when on promo," another said.

"No shortage in my local Coles," added another, to which one Redditor responded: "You're lucky! they're all out in every local Coles I've been to."

"There is no cottage cheese either. My Colesworth has none in either store," another said.

Others have reported their favourite varieties of coconut water being low in stock at the end of the day.

As a short-life chilled product, there is only so much yoghurt customers can buy at a time. Many of those missing out do their shopping in stores rather than online, making it even harder for them to find.

It is the authentic Greek yoghurt varieties that selling out the most.

Authentic Greek yoghurt is generally considered to be a better product because it is traditionally strained to remove whey, resulting in a thicker, higher-protein, lower sugar product with out additives.

Greek-style can be unstrained and include thickeners, stabilisers, or gums to mimic this texture.

For those on a health kick, and even those who want the to create the healthiest 'Japanese cheesecake' possible, Greek yoghurt is the gold standard.

And that's typically Chobani, which is struggling to keep up with demand.

It is difficult to predict when this situation will stabilise. One alternative is to purchase larger containers of Chobani and make single serves of it using food containers.

Or, you can place an online order once a month to stock up, and be able to keep up with your Greek yoghurt cravings.

But do be sure to check the used by or best before date on them, if you are planning to try either of these solutions.

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