The long-term shortage of the popular Huy Fong sriracha sauce has caused the black market to explode.
Now it is possible to buy a 2-pack for up to 124 dollars online – which corresponds to around 1,350 kroner.
At the moment, the company has no forecast for when the store shelves can be replenished again, reports CNN.
On eBay, the prices of the spicy bottled sauce vary between around 40 dollars and 70 dollars depending on the size, which corresponds to around 430 and 760 Swedish kronor.
It is even more expensive on Amazon, where a seller offers a 2-pack for 124 dollars, corresponding to around 1,350 kroner. However, it is unclear whether anyone has actually bought these because the sauce usually costs around SEK 50 per bottle.
The reason: Lack of chili pepper
The reason behind the dwindling stocks is said to be a shortage of chili pepper, which is one of the ingredients in the sauce. Last year, all orders were temporarily stopped due to this shortage, which also affected the supply of the company’s Sambal Oelek products.
Although the production of the sriracha sauce resumed last fall, Huy Fong is still witnessing a shortage of raw materials.
At present, there is no forecast for when the supply may increase again.
“Thank you for your patience”
Huy Fong’s Sriracha has been around since the 1980s and has been a favorite among consumers since its inception. It has also become increasingly popular in Sweden in recent years.
The company states that it is now working to avoid future deficiencies.
– We are grateful for your continued patience and understanding during this unprecedented stock shortage. We are currently working to try to avoid future flaws, a company spokesperson told CNN.