Bad weather has caused an anchovy shortage ahead of Christmas in Sweden, leaving shelves empty in many stores. Tomas Johansson in Gävleborg managed to find hundreds of cans in a small shop. His discovery has sparked debate on social media about ethics and hoarding.
This year's Christmas staple, Janssons frestelse, faces a shortage of traditional anchovies due to bad weather disrupting sprat fishing in 2024. The fish forms the base for Swedish anchovies, and a month before Christmas, shelves are empty in stores across the country. Some are trying to profit by selling cans on platforms like Tradera.
Tomas Johansson from Gävleborg had a lucky break after several failed attempts. A few weeks ago, he visited a large Ica store in Sandviken with no success, and the pattern continued in four more shops. The next day, he recalled a small local store where he discovered hundreds of cans. He bought a substantial amount, enough to prepare Janssons frestelse and still have leftovers for family.
After posting a photo of 14 cans in a Facebook group discussing the issue, the post ignited a heated debate. It now has over 500 comments, many criticizing what they view as selfish hoarding. Detractors call the purchase outrageous and call for rationing in stores.
"I read something about the shortage and I was happy and wanted to share, but I must say I'm astonished at how people are. It's actually scary," says Tomas Johansson.
He clarifies that the cans cover seven servings of Janssons frestelse, for his two daughters, their families, and friends on Christmas Eve. Recently, he bought two more cans, as stock remained in the small store.