National Tampon Shortage Sends Central Maine Manufacturer into Overdrive
Whether people even realize it or not, the United States is currently battling a significant shortage of a pretty hot commodity among women- tampons. And you'll never guess one of the things, errrr people, they're blaming.
According to the Kennebec Journal, Auburn Maine's Tambrands plant, and their parent company Procter & Gamble, are saying that the shortage can be partially blamed on an ad campaign that featured Amy Schumer.
That ad campaign launched back in June of 2020 and since then, Procter & Gamble Spokeswoman, Cheri McMaster, says that retail sales of the products have gone up about 7.7% in the last couple of years. However, they go on to say that that doesn't necessarily explain why other brands of tampons are currently in short supply.
With all that, Time Magazine recently reported that Procter ^ Gamble has had its largest sales increase in decades and, in its most recent quarterly report, has made 10% more on its feminine care line. However, P&G also said that its still having some issues obtaining raw materials for some products within its feminine care line.
So where does Auburn's Tambrands come into play? Tambrands is the only P&G tampon production plant the entire United States of America according to the Kennebec Journal, as supplies the essential products to United States and Canada, as well as Asia and Europe.
Just how many tampons is Auburn's Tambrands producing each day? A staggering 9 to11 MILLION according to the KJ. And, the plant is expanding. Auburn's Tambrands plant is currently in the process of completing an 85,000 square foot expansion. The KJ reports that this new expansion will push the plant to nearly 600,000 square feet.
P&G says that the plant is currently working around the clock to boost production and that starting pay at the plant is 'in the $25 an hour' range.