Update, March 24, 2021: If you're a fan of Grape-Nuts, you've probably been keeping tabs on the status of the cereal since its shortage last year. But true to its word, the brand is now back shipping at full capacity and is looking to make things right with customers.
Grape-Nuts made the announcement this week, and added that it was aware of some fans paying up to $110 a box on the "secondary market" during shortages. To make things right, Grape-Nuts said it will reimburse any eligible fans who paid higher-than-usual-prices for the cereal. Anyone who paid $10 or more for a box of Grape-Nuts Original cereal between November 1, 2020, and March 15, 2021, is eligible to submit a valid receipt for a partial refund of up to $115. You can submit your receipts between now and April 15, 2021, by visiting this link. And what will you do with that money? Well...probably buy more Grape-Nuts, of course!
Update, February 12, 2021: Fans of Grape-Nuts noticed the cereal was missing from shelves last summer, but the brand confirmed on Twitter in July that the popular breakfast was not being discontinued, rather they were adjusting its production schedule. Now, almost six months since the announcement, Grape-Nuts are finally in the works to be back on shelves in March.
Thrillist confirmed that the wheat and barley cereal will be shipping in full capacity in March. The delay in shipping was originally because Post Consumer Brands, the company that makes Grape-Nuts, were focusing on production for the most in-demand cereals at the time.
As an apology for the minor inconvenience, Post is also offering fans the chance to win free Grape-Nuts for a year. Fill out this online form to enter and potentially become one of 10 winners that get free cereal for 2021. Good luck!!
Original Post, February 1, 2021: It's been a tough time for Grape-Nuts fans.
The beloved cereal, which has been an American breakfast staple for more than 100 years, is now impossible to find in stores. If you've been missing your morning fix of wheat and barley crumbles, you're not alone. Healthy cereal enthusiasts across the country are all wondering the same thing: Did Post discontinue Grape-Nuts?!
Fortunately, the answer is no—but the situation is still pretty complicated. Back in July, someone tweeted at the @postcereals Twitter account to ask the question on everyone's mind, and the company's response offered a glimmer of hope for the future Grape-Nuts.
"Grape Nuts may be out of stock for 2-5 months due to adjustments in our production schedules to ensure the items in highest demand are available," they said. "We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you. We will continue to work to get this item back on shelves ASAP."
Now, more than six months later, the crunchy cereal is still nowhere to be found. What gives?!
Kristin DeRock, the Grape-Nuts Brand Manager at Post Consumer Brands, finally addressed the situation in a statement to Vice. She explained that the company has "absolutely no plans" to discontinue Grape-Nuts, but the shortage is expected to continue due to high demand and "supply constraints."
"Grape-Nuts is made using a proprietary technology and a production process that isn’t easily replicated, which has made it more difficult to shift production to meet demand during this time," she said. "We apologize for any frustration and inconvenience this has caused. Please know that we are working hard to get Grape-Nuts fully back on store shelves, which we expect to be this spring."
In other words, folks are eating more cereal than usual while stuck at home and Grape-Nuts is clearly one of their top choices. (Who would've thought?!) But those wheat-filled pebbles aren't easy to produce—so it's going to be a while before you can enjoy them again.
