The promotion is in response to a nationwide shortage of cream cheese.
Another shortage in the food industry is impacting one of America’s favorite holiday desserts. For the past few weeks, folks have had trouble finding bricks of cream cheese, the main ingredient in cheesecake. The shortage has even impacted New York’s famous Junior Cheesecake company, forcing them to reduce production in the midst of the holiday rush.
Philadelphia Cream Cheese, the most common brand of cream cheese, has found a workaround for the shortage. The company is holding a promotion this week to reimburse you up to $20 for your Christmas dessert.
For two days, December 17-18, consumers can go to the "spread the feeling" website and reserve their spot. Once you have confirmed your reservation, you will have until January 4, 2022, to upload the receipt for your dessert and claim a free digital reward. The number of reservations will be limited to 18,000, so be prepared to submit your information when the site goes live each day at noon EST.
Only one reservation per household is allowed and you must be 18 years or older.
A shelf without cream cheese is a holiday without cheesecake. So if you can’t make your favorite dessert this year, buy any other one. And we’ll pay for it. #SpreadTheFeeling
— Philadelphia Cream Cheese (@phillycreamchs) December 15, 2021
Philadelphia Cream Cheese makes dozens of products, including desserts, spreads, snack packs, and dips. In a statement earlier this week, Philadelphia Brand Marketing Director Basak Oguz said the company would cease production on some of those items in order to focus on the output of basic cream cheese.
In addition to cheesecake, many holiday items like cookies, mashed potatoes, and dips are made with cream cheese.
This shortage is just one of many affecting the food industry over the past year and a half. Ketchup, chicken wings, and pet food are some of the items impacted. The cause is attributed to multiple things including problems within the supply chain, warehousing and transportation, and closures of factories and plants due to sickness.
