Sharing a sad little story with a temporary happy ending:
I am a cracker lover. I inherited that trait from my dad, who loved nothing more than an afternoon snack of crackers and cheese.
But I’m picky about my crackers. I used to love Triscuits, then I fell out of love with them. Eventually, I discovered Stoned Wheat Thins and they became my cracker of choice. (I also love Wheat Thins and they currently function as an afternoon treat.)
But Stoned Wheat Thins? I loved them for years and years.
My neighborhood store also carried their own version of these crackers so I sometimes bought those. There were slight differences, but they were, in essence, the same cracker.
A few months back, Don started noticing that they were often not in stock. We’d wait it out and some would appear again. Or he’d go to another store to find a box. But, more and more, they weren’t there. And that includes the Hannaford version (local grocery store.) We didn’t know what the heck was going on.
Finally, at some point in late December or early January, when Don was at a grocery store, he asked a guy who was stocking crackers what was happening. The dreaded words: “I don’t think we’re carrying them anymore.” What??? Further conversation led to “I don’t think they’re making them.” Don had to break the news to me when he got home.
I couldn’t believe it. These are wildly popular crackers. I immediately started googling the crackers to find out what the heck was going on. I happened on several posts by people who were mourning the loss of SWT and had been grappling with shortages since last October. Several commented that they were the only crackers they liked and had been buying them for years. They are made by Red Oval Farms in Canada, a division of Mondelez – a corporate giant – which is part of Nabisco. I wrote to Mondelez and asked them why they would make that decision, and to please bring them back.
You won’t be surprised by this – no answer.
Today I found a little article on the cracker outrage from Slate.
Don kept suggesting we would find a substitute, but I knew there was nothing comparable. For years, my morning pre-breakfast routine has included a cup or two of coffee and 3 or 4 Stoned Wheat Thins.
As my last sleeve of crackers was already down to 6 or 7 crackers when I heard they were being discontinued, I ate one per day to slow down the inevitable. In the meantime, Don kept checking out the local grocery stores in case boxes appeared on the shelves.
My last cracker, which I held on to for days until I finally ate it.
A few weeks went by. I started working on Darko’s workshop. One day, Don picked me up from the bus station and showed me what he found at the grocery store.
Hannaford’s version of Stoned Wheat Thins. Two boxes. Oh my heavens! He said they had just put them on the shelf. Was it leftover stock? I checked the date on the box and was assured they were fresh. We looked at each other with the realization that he should buy more – if there were any left on the shelf.
I came home from another rehearsal, tired as all get out. After we had dinner, he told me to look in the kitchen cupboards. Why? Just look in them, he said.
Oh my heavens to the sixth degree!
So now I have a reprieve. But I suspect it’s only temporary. Hopefully, after their boneheaded move, Mondelez will get it together and start making them again.
In the meantime, I’m eating them very slowly, fully aware that this might be their last hurrah.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
Your post today made me cry (good tears). It is so heart warming, life affirming how much Don loves you and what a wonderful friend he is to you.
Take Care,
Kaye
He is the best.
Thanks, Kaye.
Stay safe.
Lol! Loved this post. This has happened to a lot of us before…a favorite food product suddenly disappears. We often joked that one of us used to be the only one who ate it, that’s why it disappeared. But hurray for Don’s success in procuring more. I hope there were a lot of other consumers who complained as well. It’s a victory Claudia…and should be celebrated…even if it’s short-lived. Enjoy your day! ;)
It is definitely being celebrated – one cracker at a time!
Stay safe, Donnamae.
Here is the next thing for you and Don to try – making your crackers from scratch!
https://eatingfromthegroundup.com/2012/04/the-cracker-that-just-might-do-it/
Never run out again and season them the way you love best!
Thanks, Ellen. If anyone does that who lives in this house, it won’t be me!
Stay safe.
I do buy Wheat Thins but I don’t think I have ever seen these crackers. Now I will have to look when I shop.
The last couple years have been frustrating…seems like every time I shop there is a product that is not on the shelves, sometimes for weeks and then suddenly it appears again.
Don is such a good guy…that’s true love.
Take care
I don’t think you’ll see them now.
Stay safe, Marilyn.
what a great pair you and don are, supporting each other in big and little ways! very happy for you both to have each other. and some more crackers.
i share the same frustration over discontinued products. just happened to me last month with a moisturizer i’d used for at least a decade. why, oh, why?!?
thanks for the photo tour and description of some extra time you had in nyc. that paper/pen/planner store looks interesting.
glad the work and travels are going well.
claudia, you asked a couple days ago if i was still smelling marijuana in my apartment. yes, twice after my landlord said he talked “nicely” with the suspected smoker, also once in the seven-car garage (all which i reported), but not since my landlord put out an angry memo. hopefully that puts an end to any smoking in the building. thanks for asking.
cold here so five-plus inches of snow remain. took a ride yesterday and found a spot so beautiful that i just wanted to hike out to it, sit and be … nothing but white snow and a super-light-gray sky and an old white barn. no trees nearby, no fence, no house, no crops peaking through the snow, just beautiful. i didn’t do that, but have some photos, one of which i may get printed to put on a wall.
working on other projects here and will spend time with members of my family again today and likely go for another ride. :)
hope you, don and everyone else are having a good day. stay safe in every way.
kathy
Good for your landlord! We’re getting snow today – maybe up to three inches. Then 6 more on Wednesday.
Stay safe, Kathy.
I love Stoned Wheat Thins, too, and I’m a big fan of cheese and crackers especially before bed. My husband says I’m part mouse because I like cheese so much. Come to think of it, I don’t recall seeing Stoned Wheat Thins in NoFrills for a long time or I’m sure I would have bought them. I’m back to Triscuits and plain soda crackers. Dare Vinta crackers are quite good, too. Lucky girl that Don has made provision for you and tracked down your crackers. Enjoy. Hugs, Elaine
I love crackers and cheese, too.
Stay safe, Elaine.
Same story here about the disappearing Stoned Wheat Thins. We don’t have Hannaford nearby, but I’ve found Whole Foods carries 365 brand Cracked Wheat Crackers.
I’ve had their brand when I’ve been working out of town, but I don’t like it as much as SWT. But better than nothing!
Stay safe, Polly.
They still seem to be available in grocery stores in Canada. You can even order them from Amazon.ca. I would be happy to mail you some if you get desperate, lol
I doubt they’ll be there much longer, Elizabeth!
Stay safe.
Claudia! We also noticed the stores here in Canada weren’t stocking them. Then, 2 weeks ago, at Costco, we found them in their (almost) original packaging. I say “almost” because we noticed they are a slightly smaller cracker. But they taste the same. I would say the company was just doing a re-set, and are indeed still making them. Let’s hope!
Gail
Nabisco responded to someone complaining about the decision (on Twitter) with “They have been discontinued.” That sounds final. We’ll see, maybe there’s been enough complaints that they’ll consider changing their decision.
Stay safe, Gail.
Amazing story and amazing husband. I am
Hoping the snow holds off as Part of Indy group flying down next weekend for a week. Going to Disney for grand’s senior trip. A couple of days there and the rest with Nana. So cute so have lived here teips have been cancelled for hurricane predictions and snow and Covid. Fortunately Allegiant Air is fantastic at refunds. We take it in stride as we do life.
Thanks, Brenda.
Stay safe.
Good job, Don!
I just looked them up on Amazon. They had one box left (so they say) for — wait for it — $27.99. Yikes! I’ll look around here but I doubt I’ll find anything different if they are discontinued in general.
Ridiculous!
Stay safe, Jeanie.
WHY does this always happen to our favorite things?!? It’s been years, and I’m still mourning the loss of my beloved “Twigs” (sesame snacks) … and I’ve found nothing to replace them!😐 That Don is a gem … and I love this post, Claudia!
Thanks so much, Debbie.
Stay safe.
It isn’t food, but I have been a long time customer of Bio-Kleen detergents etc and last year I think it was that they sold out and moved out of our state to the east and changed their formula for their products. Still using what I stored up but don’t know how long it will last. That stuff was so good for the washer and dishwasher!!!Actually helped the appliances last longer. So many companies are selling out!! and they were organic back then. Hope your crackers don’t do that!!!
It’s so frustrating, isn’t it?
Stay safe, Jan.
dear Claudia/Don — it MUST be love that handsome man of yours has for you!!!!! I feel the very same way about Frito corn chips — I know they are not good for me BUT sometimes nothing else will do, do enjoy your crackers. stay safe/healthy
Thank you, Linda.
Stay safe.