UK is facing a Flake shortage just in time for summer

Virgin Radio

15 Jun 2022, 11:04

We’ve got 99 problems and a Flake shortage is one.

Our ice creams are the latest thing in jeopardy this summer as British sellers have warned they are facing a “nightmare” shortage of Cadbury 99 Flakes.

It is the staple of any good British summer, and with a heatwave set to hit parts of the country by Friday, our hopes of chilling out in the sun with an 99 Flake ice cream in hand are dwindling

This comes as Cadbury’s parent company reveal there are “supply chain disruptions” after moving most of its production of the chocolate treat to a factory near Cairo, Egypt.

A spokesperson for the company, Modelez, said: “In line with what many other companies are reporting, we are experiencing some global supply chain disruptions, alongside a recent increase in demand for the product in the UK and Ireland above the levels that we agreed with our customers at the start of the year.”

“This means we are experiencing some short-term stock challenges on Flake 99.

“We are working, and will continue to work hard, to resolve the situation, and are working closely with our direct distributive customers to manage stock allocation fairly based on initial forecasts.”

It has become such a problem, that the Ice Cream Alliance has got involved.

In a statement, they also said: “This is disappointing to our members and their customers as the Flake product is synonymous with the whippy ice cream known as the Flake 99 and enjoyed throughout the UK, especially during the summer months.

“The ICA hopes that the supply issue is resolved as soon as possible to benefit both our members, the ice cream industry and their customers.”

As previously mentioned, the 99 Flake has been a staple of the British summertime for a number of years now, and many people think that the name correlated with the price of the ice cream.

However, the real reason for the Flake being called so is actually far more interesting.

In the days of the monarch in Italy, the king had a chosen guard consisting of 99 men, and people started to use 99 to describe something that was special or a cut above the rest- which is how 99 Flake came but its name.

If you're fancying something else sweet and icy when you can't get your ice cream fix, then why not try an iced coffee?

Well, this TikToker has taken the time to make a map of all the Pret A Manger's in the country that sell them so you are never caught out.