Due to an unprecedented heat wave causing a decrease in raw milk production, emergency alerts have been turned on for the supply of whipped cream. The price of whipped cream, which used to be in the 7,000 won range for 500mL, has soared to 29,000-30,000 won within three weeks. Fresh food delivery platforms such as SSG.com and Market Kurly are currently sold out.
Self-employed individuals running cake and dessert cafes that use whipped cream as a material and supply are attempting to secure the dwindling supply by doing 'open runs' at nearby large supermarkets, but they are struggling. An atmosphere has formed where it is difficult to endure without a price increase, leading to signs that cake and dessert prices may rise.
According to industries related to the matter on the 29th, a recent shortage of whipped cream, a key ingredient for cakes, desserts, and cookies, has occurred. The decrease in raw milk production is due to the effects of the heat on dairy cows. The most commonly raised dairy cow in Korea is the Holstein breed. This breed does not consume feed in environments exceeding 27 degrees Celsius, resulting in reduced raw milk production, and when the heat continues above 32 degrees Celsius, production can decrease by as much as 20%.
According to the Seoul Milk Cooperative, the average daily collection of raw milk is about 1,900 tons. However, it has currently decreased by about 100 tons. A representative from the Seoul Milk Cooperative noted, "We can only ship about 70% of our usual whipped cream production due to limitations," and added, "It seems that the supply of whipped cream will not be smooth until early September." Maeil Dairies also reported that its average daily collection has decreased by about 5-10% compared to just before the heat began.
Seoul Milk whipped cream (500mL), priced between 6,000 and 7,000 won, is currently sold out at large supermarkets and e-commerce platforms such as Emart, Kurly, and Homeplus. On Coupang, it is sold for 29,320 won or 30,370 won per unit. The shelf life of whipped cream is a maximum of seven days, with most being short at three to five days. Cake and dessert cafe owners express that buying in bulk when prices are low is difficult.
Oh, a 40-year-old who runs a personal cake cafe in Mapo-gu, Seoul, said, "There has always been a whipped cream crisis every summer, but this year the heat came early, and the supply of whipped cream has already become difficult. Originally, I was also selling slice cakes, but now I am only taking reservations for whole cakes. The quantity is short, so there is nothing I can do."
Choi, a 37-year-old running a personal dessert shop in Jung-gu, Seoul, said, "It seems that it is also difficult to get whipped cream from distributors and wholesalers. I typically use about 280 to 300 units of whipped cream a month, but these days the quantity is lacking," adding, "The insufficient quantity is purchased from nearby supermarkets, but you have to do an open run to barely get it."
Some establishments are already raising cake prices. A 27-year-old office worker, Kim Jae-eun, living in Dobong-gu, Seoul, noted, "I had reserved an order at a cafe to buy a cake for my father's birthday, and a small whole cake was 35,000 won." She added, "Last year, I bought a cake of similar size here for 25,000 to 26,000 won. When I asked the owner, I was told that the price was raised due to difficulties in the supply of whipped cream."
However, the franchise cafe industry is currently under the impression that there are no issues with the supply of whipped cream. Unlike self-employed individuals operating personal cake and dessert cafes who procure whipped cream as needed, the franchises have secured sufficient stock through advance supply contracts. A representative of the franchise industry commented, "While the use of whipped cream in food and beverage (F&B) is high, receiving large deliveries from various sources means that there are no major issues."
The industry believes that if this year's heat wave lasts longer than usual, the prices of cakes and desserts will ultimately rise. An industry representative stated, "As the supply difficulty becomes more frequent and the period extends due to abnormal weather phenomena like heat waves, the prices of related products will inevitably be affected," adding, "We are closely monitoring supply volatility and considering countermeasures."
Seo Yong-gu, a professor in the Department of Business Administration at Sookmyung Women's University, said, "We will look for ways to overcome the crisis, such as finding alternatives to the whipped cream products we have been using. However, if the whipped cream crisis continues for a long time, self-employed individuals will have no choice but to consider raising prices."