If you aren’t familiar with EggoGate09, you clearly haven’t been watching TV or using any form of social media. Search for “Eggos” in Google and you’ll get pages of news stories and blog posts mentioning the shortage (that is apparently the first sign of the end of days). Typing “Eggos” into Twitter Search pulls more pages of Tweets than I would ever attempt to count for this post.

However, prior to the worst thing to ever happen to frozen breakfast, when was the last time you heard Eggos mentioned on the news? Or saw someone tweet about the waffles (other than updates on what they were eating)?

I have to admit. This potential crisis for Kellogg’s is turning out to be the best word-of-mouth marketing for their brand of frozen waffles. Ever.

To be honest, it’s working on me. I heard about the Eggo shortage, how I can’t find them at Target and those nutters selling them on eBay for outrageous prices – and it made me want Eggos. It brought me back to the days when I would put one tiny drop of syrup in each little square (yep, Type-A even at age 7). Back to nights when I convinced my mom that I wanted breakfast for dinner.

As a professional who occasionally deals with client crises, I am impressed that what should have been stories about warehouses with equipment problems and flooding, has turned into consumers and news media lamenting the loss of the Eggo waffle. And, let’s be honest, when was the last time any of these individuals purchased Eggos? My bet, it’s been quite a long time, but they’ll definitely be buying them now – if they can find them.

Photo credit: jefito.com