Thin Mints Shortage Threatens Regional Girl Scout Fundraising

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Monday, March 02, 2015

Annie Ellison, GoLocalPDX Reporter

With two weeks left of the annual sales drive to go, some Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington (GSOSW) troops are facing an impending cookie crisis. 

Some troops in the region are already out of Thin Mints, the historic number one-selling cookie, a staple of the organization’s principal fundraising campaign. 

“This is an unprecedented shortage of Thin Mints,” said Anne Rogge, Leader of Troop 45020, Harney Girl Scouts, Vancouver Girl Scouts.  “There is growing concern.”

Rogge said the shortage particularly impacts troops with "real little cookie movers," who will be unable to replenish their stocks. Troop 45020 will not have Thin Mints beyond the weekend unless another troop transfers them, she said. 

Leah Greenwood, the troop’s cookie coordinator, said after a series of frantic emails between parents and troop leaders, an emergency planning meeting has been scheduled for Sunday to develop a marketing strategy for less popular varieties of cookies. 

“How can we market Tagalongs and Trefoils?” Greenwood asked.

Rogge said underproduction at Kelloggs-owned Little Brownie Bakers caused the shortage of the popular Thin Mints. Little Brownie Bakers is based in Louisville, KY, and cookie orders take roughly eight days to arrive from the time the order is placed, according to GSOSW.  

While some troops are still stocked with Thin Mints, Greenwood said she does not expect any more shipments of Thin Mints, or the popular coconut cookie, Samoas, for the remainder of the sales drive. 

The Girl Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington will turn to their ingenuity to work through the challenge, both parents said. 

“I’ve definitely seen Girl Scouts make most out of any situation,” said GSOSW Product Sales Manager Heather Law. 

“I’ve never seen a nationwide shortage like this in 16 years I’ve been doing this,” she said.  

Still, Law said the shortage of Thin Mints among some troops in Oregon and Southwest Washington can be attributed to unusually high demand for the cookies, as many troops placed their orders ahead of time. Law expects to get more Thin Mints in by the final weekend of sales, ending March 15. 

Kellogg spokesman Kris Charles said the company experienced an "unexpected spike" in Girl Scout cookie demand, and that the company is working to ensure orders are delivered in a timely manner. 

Cookies will be sold outside various locations in the Portland Metro area until March 15. 

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