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No shortage, but flour and yeast in short supply during pandemic

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The great toilet paper shortage of 2020 has seemed to die down for the most part.

But some baking items are now in short supply in stores: Flour and yeast have been a little harder to find.

It’s not that we’re running out of food, though. It’s just the supply chain can’t handle it.

Amelia’s Bakery in Fletcher Place has been transformed. And while Bluebeard, the associated restaurant next door, is shut down, an entire online grocery and carryout service has sprung up at the bakery.

“Doesn’t make up for it, but it is allowing us to get by,” said Charlie McIntosh, co-owner of both Amelia’s and Bluebeard.

One of the more popular items is baked goods. McIntosh estimates there’s been a 10-15% increase since the pandemic.

“A few shortages here and there, primarily yeast,” he said. “I think a lot of people here have more extra time than they had in the past.”

It’s the same story at Needler’s Fresh Market, where more products are coming in, bigger shipments and a better variety, too. But on the top shelf, where the yeast is supposed to be, it’s been empty for the three to four weeks.

“Flour is getting back in stock, but we did suffer for quite a while with it being short,” said Needler’s Store manager Steve Nevitt.

Beech Grove is home to one of the largest flour mills in the country. Although ADM officials won’t tell us about the production, nationwide demand for consumer use of flour in the home has gone up 154% since March according to Amy Cornell, president of the Agribusines Council of Indiana.

Still, she said that only makes up 4% of the market.

“What you’re seeing is actually a huge shortfall in consumer buying habits and the ripple effect of the delay in the supply chain of adapting to that,” Cornell said.

She said you can’t just flip a switch and go from producing 50-pound bags of flour for restaurants to 5-pound bags for a kitchen.

But Cornell said there’s plenty of wheat out there, just waiting.

“We’re still on the very beginning edge of something that has huge ripple effects throughout the economy,” Cornell said.

So be patient.

“It’s getting better, definitely getting better,” Nevitt said.

“Baking makes people feel good and it smells great and it tastes great,” McIntosh said.