What's With the Damn Broth?

@porwest (78759)
United States
February 4, 2024 8:39am CST
I am getting low on chicken and beef broth, and usually get the Great Value unsalted variety. But when I went to our Walmart on Friday for some things, they were completely out of it. So, on Saturday, when the wife said she wanted to check out a new cover for her tablet and I asked where she wanted to look, and she said Walmart, I said, "Well, in that case let's go to the Walmart in Waterloo and I can check to see if they have the unsalted broth there." Sort of a "kill two birds with one stone" scenario. But no cigar. They didn't have any there. Plenty of reduced sodium. But that's not what I want either. So, it seems there's a shortage for whatever reason. I KNOW they wouldn't discontinue it and hope not. I could get Swanson's, but it's almost twice the cost. Not that it's THAT big of a deal. But we ARE in soup season and of course I use a lot of broth for that. Not being able to replenish my stock just irritates me. The fact that we are STILL experiencing supply chain issues is ALSO irritating. For a couple of weeks Walmart was out of the kitty litter we use.
15 people like this
14 responses
@Tampa_girl7 (49059)
• United States
4 Feb
The stores have been out of things here too. I hope that you can find it soon.
2 people like this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
4 Feb
Not a time goes by for the past three years or so I haven't had to put off buying something because it's not on the shelf. Very irritating.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458642)
• Switzerland
4 Feb
We are experiencing the same, some things are out of stock and we do not know when they will be available again.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
8 Feb
It is very frustrating and something we NEVER had to deal just a few short years ago. We should be past this by now. But here we are.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458642)
• Switzerland
8 Feb
@porwest I do not know what is going on and why so many products are missing.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
9 Feb
@LadyDuck There are a variety of reasons.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
5 Feb
Any other stores besides Walmart you can try that sell broth at a low cost?
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
6 Feb
@porwest does it have to be generic?
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
6 Feb
I have looked. Most don't offer a store or generic one that is salt free. I will keep looking though.
@porwest (78759)
• United States
8 Feb
@lovebuglena No. But I prefer paying the generic price. I can buy Swanson, but it's nearly twice as much and I don't want to pay it.
@Hannihar (129507)
• Israel
5 Feb
@porwest So did you break down and go to the other place that had what you wanted for a higher price and since Walmart was out of the kitty litter do you go elsewhere and pay a higher price? Maybe Walmart was out of stock of these items. I have found that I could not get things I needed too and had to wait or see if could substitute for something else.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
8 Feb
No. I do not pay higher prices just because. If I can't get something for the price I want, I don't buy it. Usually, I have enough of something to wait. Not always. But I refuse to pay higher prices for something just because. Granted, I can't ALWAYS do that. But the more often I DO, it still saves money overall.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129507)
• Israel
9 Feb
@porwest Ok and if I need something and it is higher than what I have to pay then I get it.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
10 Feb
@Hannihar I need my money more. lol Plus, that's why prices stay high. If people pay it anyway, why lower the price? If it stays on the shelf, it gives them a reason to lower it.
1 person likes this
@BabeSays (8576)
• Mauritius
4 Feb
I've never used any broth. I hope you find one to your liking.
1 person likes this
@BabeSays (8576)
• Mauritius
4 Feb
@porwest I've tried to find it in our store but failed. Maybe they don't have it here or they call it something else. I agree, It easy to buy and use them.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
4 Feb
@BabeSays I would imagine you have broth or stock there. Almost every country uses it to some extent. I can't imagine you don't. It seems impossible to me. Boulettes, for example, are cooked in a broth, and I hear that is popular dish in Mauritius.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
4 Feb
I use it mainly for soups, but I also make other dishes with it. I used to make my own broth, but buying it is so much easier, and actually cheaper nonetheless.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (28810)
4 Feb
We have some empty shelves here as well. It's all hit and miss, if you find what you want/need, I would recommend buying an extra or two. If you cannot buy the broth you want, try Better than Bullion. They have a low sodium version. Their product is condensed but really good flavors, in lots of choices.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
16 Feb
That's part of the problem, though. The way I run my pantry I have always have more stocked than I need. By the time I put something on the list I am not out. I am almost out. But I still need to replace the items before I AM out, and usually I buy multiples when I restock. So, this presents a problem when something is absent from the shelves for an extended period. It used to not be this way, of course. I did finally break down and bought some Great Value reduced sodium. But I'd prefer to have the unsalted.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
19 Feb
@MarieCoyle It has definitely changed. No doubt about it.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (28810)
17 Feb
@porwest Yes, I think many people have built up their pantry somewhat in the last few years, due to not being able to find things, not wanting to shop that often, and finding things they use on sale. None of us have ever really lived in times like these are. Previously, we have all pretty much wanted to buy a certain item or items that had become way to expensive for some reason, and we moaned about it and didn't buy it. Now, not only is it possibly too pricey, you may not be able to find it, as in the case of your broth.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157629)
• United States
5 Feb
I have noticed that a lot at Wal Mart. Sorry it is frustrating you.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
6 Feb
Every time I go it seems like one or more items are just not there. Then you have to wait weeks for it to return. You'd think by now we'd have these supply chain issues resolved, but here we are still dealing with them.
@much2say (53952)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Feb
I've noticed a shortage of various food items too at other stores too. Some of my staples have indeed been discontinued - and that truly sucks. But it's not the end of the world . . . somehow I'll find a substitute - maybe - or something doable anyway. I don't mind the reduced sodium broths . . . I just add more salt as needed!
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
8 Feb
In the world we live in today, all we can do is work around what is. It is, of course, what it is. lol
@NJChicaa (116063)
• United States
4 Feb
Can't you go to another grocery store and get their store brand? I always have homemade vegetable stock in the freezer (made from veggie scraps) to use in a pinch if I don't have chicken or beef broth for a recipe.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
4 Feb
I always look for alternatives, but for whatever reason, when it comes to most store brands they will offer a reduced sodium variety but not an unsalted one. Even Ruler Foods or Aldi in my area do not carry them. I do keep a constant eye out, though.
@thelme55 (76484)
• Germany
5 Feb
I hope you will find your unsalted broth somewhere. I don’t buy broth,I made it. Well, just chicken broth.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
6 Feb
I used to make it myself too. It certainly is better that way. Although it is cheaper and faster to just buy it, and so that's why I do it.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156722)
• United States
5 Feb
Yes, Walmart is often out of some of the things we need. The stock is in; and then it's out. Hope you and Dawn have a good day.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
8 Feb
Shopping definitely takes way more planning nowadays than it ever used to. It can be extremely annoying.
1 person likes this
• Nairobi, Kenya
4 Feb
Sorry about the supplain chain issue and missing beef broth. Maybe it is out of stock for a short while.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
4 Feb
What I have found is that things just take turns. Eventually it will be back on the shelves. In the meantime I just had to find some workarounds.
1 person likes this
• Cloverdale, Indiana
12 Feb
I know what you mean, there's a lot of stuff that's not on the shelves any more, stuff we use to eat all the time so we just either do without or find something close.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
14 Feb
That's pretty much it. I did finally get a couple of reduced sodium ones. I will keep looking for the unsalted ones. They will turn up again eventually.
@Ghostlady (367)
• United States
15 Feb
I went to get a half gallon of milk the other day, and there were none...not even 2%. Shelves were bare..not even the name brand milk was on the shelf. I went to WinnDixie and all their brand of milk was out..well..they did have 2%, but I really don't like it. There was a name brand 1/2 gal. called Prairie Brand, but they wanted $4.69 for that 1/2 gal. I then went to Piggly Wiggly, and they had some, but the Use By date is over tomorrow, and I bought it Monday! This is not the 1st time I have had trouble finding milk at Walmart. Hope you find your Broth soon.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
16 Feb
By now you would think we'd be past supply chain issues, but we're not. It's better. But still not RIGHT. I never would have imagined we'd ever live in a world like this in the United States. Boggles the mind.
1 person likes this