Starbucks hit by supply shortages

Starbucks is reportedly experiencing supply shortages, sparking frustration among customers and employees.

The New York Times reported that customers and baristas are taking to social media to express their anger at shortages of a wide array of Starbucks products, including popular drink ingredients like peach and guava juices, iced and cold-brew coffee, breakfast foods and cake pops.

Critics on social media have also said the coffee chain has experienced shortages of cups, lids and straws.

In a TikTok posted this week, four Starbucks employees are seen screaming, apparently out of frustration from the shortages. Text written on the video says the store was out of more than 15 products and the “will to live.”

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Starbucks now joins a number of other companies and products experiencing shortages due to supply chain issues triggered by the pandemic as well as weather and cargo ship delays.

Chick-fil-A last month said it was facing a shortage of its “Chick-fil-A Sauce” at locations across the U.S.

In April, reports circulated that the U.S. was facing a shortage of ketchup.

In a statement to The Hill, a spokeswoman for Starbucks said the company is “experiencing temporary supply shortages of some of our products.”

“Specific items will vary by market and store, and some stores will experience outages of various items at the same time,” the spokeswoman continued.

She added that Starbucks is “working quickly and closely with our supply chain vendors to restock items as soon as possible,” and apologized for the “inconvenience” the shortages have caused.

She said the company was working with its vendors to restock the items, and that the shortages had not impacted prices.

Updated at 3:41 p.m.