If you’ve ever wanted to enjoy American Airlines’ first class nut mix at home, now is your chance.
There’s a huge airline nut surplus
The company that has been supplying American Airlines with its first class nut mix for 30 years currently has a surplus of nuts, as business has dropped by about 90%.
In a typical year the company roasts 2.4 million pounds of nuts, most of which go to airlines. But with airlines largely not serving nuts right now, demand has dropped, and the company has 70,000 bags of nuts sitting around, most of which are a cashew-almond-walnut-pecan mix.
As Kim Peacock of GNS Foods and GreatNuts.com describes the situation:
“I have 50,000 pounds of nuts American Airlines and United didn’t want! We’re feeling sad. We’re sitting on a lot of nuts.”
When the pandemic started, airlines started cutting service to minimize contact between passengers and crew. This included eliminating the ramekin of nuts that are served in first class on many flights.
When the pandemic started, apparently American Airlines asked GNS Foods to first wait three weeks, but that has been extended since. The company suggested that these nuts could be bagged in single-serve portions, either for airline passengers or as a bonus gift for AAdvantage members, but American didn’t bite.
Peacock then makes the following point:
“Yet. on my last flight in first class, I was served a cheese-cracker-fruit-chocolate tray complete with plasticware. However, they can’t keep nuts?”
Buy American Airlines nuts to enjoy at home!
With GNS Foods having so many extra nuts, the company is now selling these airline nut mixes directly to consumers. Nuts are being sold in a variety of quantities, ranging from 1.25 pound bags for for $12.95, to 7.5 pound bags for $48.90, and shipping is included.
The lowest price per pound would be about $6.52. While I wouldn’t exactly call that a bargain on nuts, these aren’t just any nuts. They’re airplane nuts, and surely that’s worth paying a premium for? 😉
Bottom line
This doesn’t come as a surprise, but it’s not just airlines struggling, but also their suppliers. It can be easy to lose sight of how many livelihoods depend on the nuts American Airlines serves in first class, and this is a very real example of that.
Demand for airline nuts is down 90%, and one Texas nut factory has 70,000 bags of nuts sitting around. If you’ve ever wanted to enjoy airline nuts at home, this is your chance…
So, who is picking up some American Airlines nuts?
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