TikTok Made It Sell Out: How a Viral Recipe Caused a Nationwide Cottage Cheese Shortage
If you’ve strolled through your local Coles or Woolies lately, you may have noticed something strange—the cottage cheese shelves are empty. No, it’s not a supply chain issue or a dairy shortage. The culprit? A viral TikTok recipe that’s taken Australia by storm: the Hot Honey Sweet Potato Beef Bowl.
🧀 The Recipe That Broke the Dairy Aisle
What started as a simple, high-protein meal idea quickly turned into a full-blown social media sensation. Thanks to Aussie influencers Michael Finch and Danielle Mitchell, the Hot Honey Sweet Potato Beef Bowl—featuring seasoned beef, roasted sweet potato, spicy honey drizzle, and a generous scoop of creamy cottage cheese—has become the meal of the moment.
The video racked up millions of views, and within days, supermarkets reported an unexpected surge in cottage cheese sales, sending Australia’s stock levels into meltdown.
📉 Supermarket Scramble: Coles & Woolies React
Shoppers across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane have taken to social media venting their frustration over the empty shelves. Some stores have posted signs explaining the temporary unavailability, while others are rushing to restock as demand far outpaces supply.
Both Coles and Woolworths confirmed they’re working with suppliers to fast-track deliveries and meet the new wave of demand—all thanks to a TikTok trend.
💡 Why This Matters: Social Media's Influence on Buying Behaviour
This isn’t just about cottage cheese. It’s a perfect example of how TikTok is rewriting the rules of product demand. A 30-second video can now shift national shopping habits overnight. From feta pasta to baked oats, and now cottage cheese, viral food trends are becoming powerful micro-movements that retailers—and brands—can’t ignore.
For businesses, it’s a wake-up call: social media isn’t just a branding tool, it’s a real-time demand generator.
👀 What’s Next?
If you’re looking to hop on the trend, try swapping in ricotta, Greek yoghurt, or labneh until cottage cheese returns to the shelves. Or better yet, give the recipe a go and see what the hype is all about. Just be quick—the next viral food craze might already be brewing on your For You page.