Where are all the Cheez Balls?
Saturday, 12. November 2005, 02:04:16
My friend Ellen who lives in L.A. asked me to please buy her some Planters Cheez Balls and mail them to her because there seemed to be a shortage in California, in other words, she couldn't find them anywhere. She assured me she had looked high and low for them. I looked at my local Stop and Shop for them and also could not find them. I told her she should look online. Ellen blurted out
I called and got a woman on the phone, I explained my plight.
It seemed she was desperate. It all came to a head the other day when I was talking with her on the phone about it and decided to check online myself. I found them being sold by the case Here She told me she'd been to that site and when she tried to buy her case of Cheez Balls it wouldn't work. Oh the horror! So next I went to the official site, Planters I saw that they still had the illustrious Cheez Balls listed in their product gallery. By this time I wanted Cheez Balls just as much as Ellen. I told her I would call them and get to the bottom of this. She saidI tried that already!
Great, call me back right away and let me know what you found out!
I called and got a woman on the phone, I explained my plight.
She told me she was so sorry and she would help me out, but first I needed to giver her my name and zip code. I was then put on hold. When she came back she gave me the bad news. She said,My friend and I can't find the Cheez Balls anywhere, and we're sad about that.
To which I repliedI'm sorry, but they've been discontinued.
Was that rude? The woman on the phone then proceeded to ask me for my full name, address, phone number etc. I didn't know why she needed it and also didn't quite know how to deny her so I gave it all to her. I was surprised she didn't want my blood type too. I will probably be solicited now for all kinds of peanuty things. I had to call Ellen and gently break the news. She was very upset. She told me she wasn't prepared for them to be gone. The last time she bought some there were 4 cans on the shelf and she bought 2. If she had known it would be the last time though, she said she would have bought them all.Didn't you know that already?
WIDGETIZE
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Anonymous # 4. December 2006, 23:50
Why planters why?
What joy do you get in running over my childhood.
Does anyone remember geting the cheez balls sticking to the roof of the mouth and between the teeth?
and the planters chips as well.
i think i need to lie down....
Anonymous # 6. December 2006, 17:22
I am glad I am not the only one!!!! Wow I cant believe how many cheez ball lovers there are! Why would Planter's discontinue something that obviously so many people love?! I used to only find them at Target and Family Dollar, then I moved to Chicago and couldn't find them anywhere.. then when I was in Denver I found some there and bought some.. had I known they wer going to be discontinued I would have bought all of them!!! This is a tragedy! What am I going to do to fulfill my craving now?! I only found this page because I was searching for planter's cheez balls online.. obviously I'm not the only one (thank god!!!). I am desperate!! If anyone knows anything about where/how to mass order or anything like that... a petition perhaps? Please let me know!!! my email is xvixxxenx@gmail.com
cheez ball heads unite!!!
Anonymous # 28. December 2006, 03:09
LIFE WITHOUT PLANTERS CHEESE BALLS IS JUST NOT WORTH LIVING!!! I CAN'T GO ON ANY LONGER!!! I...MUST...FIND... PLANTERS CHEESE BALLS! (GASP...GASP!)
Anonymous # 28. December 2006, 03:10
LIFE WITHOUT PLANTERS CHEEZ BALLS IS JUST NOT WORTH LIVING!!! I CAN'T GO ON ANY LONGER!!! I...MUST...FIND... PLANTERS CHEEZ BALLS! (GASP...GASP!):cry:
Anonymous # 29. December 2006, 04:18
This is crap. I have been looking everwhere for Cheese Balls...CUB, Target, Kmart, Big Lots, Walmart, Rainbow, SuperOne. At least someone put out this website to let me know. I was in the dark.
Anonymous # 29. December 2006, 04:18
This is crap. I have been looking everwhere for Cheese Balls...CUB, Target, Kmart, Big Lots, Walmart, Rainbow, SuperOne. At least someone put out this website to let me know. I was in the dark.
bostonheart # 30. December 2006, 20:36
Anonymous # 1. January 2007, 03:21
I miss them so much.....when ever i got sick and started to eat again....the first thing i wanted were,yes, cheese balls(not any kind but planters!!
Anonymous # 2. January 2007, 03:16
I just looked for them in three different stores. I'm sooo sad. Nothing else is the same.
Anonymous # 4. January 2007, 01:38
I had finally decided to look online for Planter's Cheez Balls only to get the drop of bad news....ahhhhhh!!!! I have been looking for over a year or so for the only and last place that was selling them was Target until one day I noticed that its spot was gone so I just figured that they stop selling them not that it was DISCONTINUED!!! WOW, what a stabb in the heart to finally get this confirmation. Planter's really need to bring it back, I am sure for I am not the only one out there in the dark. For I am also glad to find out that I was not the only one going crazy in trying to find them as well.....how funny! :(
Anonymous # 9. January 2007, 20:07
this is horseshit! i use to suck on them, eat em, throw em up in air and catch it in my mouth. everything. dammit! hopefully they will come back
Anonymous # 10. January 2007, 03:25
DEAR GOD PLANTERS!! Why have you forsaken us this way??? WHHHHYYYYYYYY???
I will hunt you down. I will search evey crack and crevice. I will find you and when I do... You will give me my CHEESE BALLS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous # 12. January 2007, 21:58
Even in Wisconsin, the land of cheese, there is no acceptable substitute. Well, at least the mystery is solved for me now too....Damn it!
Anonymous # 24. January 2007, 00:42
Ohhh my God...I am not the only one? I have been searching for months and months for these damn cheese balls!! I simply thought that my neighborhood store didnt sell them. I even tried Wal-Mart which sells everything imaginable. Everytime my girlfriend went to the store....she asks me what I want. Out of all foods and isles and isles of snacks, I choose Cheese Balls~!! Cheese Ball Cheese Ball Cheese Balls....That's all I want... Each time she comes back... I am disappointed time and time again. I even went to CVS to buy this imitation bucket of cheese balls. I figured...Hey they're all going to taste the same. How bad can you mess up a cheeseball? Ohhhh you can my friend... The crap tasted of pastic residue from the plastic container it came in. Dooo NOT BE FOOLED ....ohhh you dont think that the metal plastic container matters with its metal seal that I have cut myself time and time again...But t does my friend...AND although it drew blood many times...and was pissed off every time....I now know understand the purpose of this razor blade lid.
My girlfriend researched online today and found this site. On Jan. 23, 2006 I found out that they are discontinued. To all the others who read these blogs after this date, I Feel for yall man. Ohh the texture and crunch that came with every bite. The size oh so perfect that you would try to fit as many as possible in your mouth..Even the soft disolved make-up of its content that occurred when it came in contact with too much saliva...oohhhh so great....Those Ballz were as my friend would state "Quite Tastey" Today is the day I found out that they are freaking discontinue... this sucks. Lets revolt. NO MORE PEANUTS, CASHEW, and Walnuts for me Bastards~~~~!. Screw Mr. Peanut and his blind a55 with his cane.
Anonymous # 25. January 2007, 08:56
ok, i emailed planters last week about this same thing. I heard back from them from "Kim"
if you guys use "Cheeseballs" as the subject we might make some ground. this is her email. I know its a weird looking email but i promise my soul its not spam. I responded and its also not a dead email. Make sure you say cheeseballs in the subject to get momentum.
OnlineTeam2@casupport.com
thats the only way i know to get those damn thing back.
hopefully we can make an impact!!!
--
Anonymous # 2. February 2007, 23:31
Apparently not enough people like the cheese balls!? Perhaps it is time for more people to voice discontent with Kraft and ask them cordially or not to bring the damn balls back!
I wrote to Planter's (KRAFT FOODS):
CHEESE BALLS! Your BEST product..... Where are they!? Arizona.... ship them here in mass quantities!!!
They responded:
Thank you for visiting h!!p://www.kraftfoods.com/ and for your interest in PLANTERS Cheez Mania Cheez Balls.
It's great to hear from consumers who are looking for our products because it lets us know how much you enjoy them. The tough part comes when we have to share the news that the product you're trying to find has been discontinued.
If products don't seem to be popular with our consumers, and demand starts to drop, a decision is made to discontinue the item. Once this decision is made, we stop making the product and the remaining supply is shipped from our warehouse to the grocery stores. Unfortunately we do not have any information about which stores may still have our discontinued products in stock.
At this time there are no plans to bring back our discontinued products, but we are always cooking up something new to help you live and eat better so you may discover a new favorite!
Again, thanks for contacting us, and I hope you'll continue to enjoy our products.
Kim McMiller
Associate Director, Consumer Relations
~~TLXEA_14735744~~N
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Anonymous # 6. February 2007, 00:24
So I have known about this for a long time, and for years I have been searching for other items.
The closest I have found are the Cheetos 100 Calorie Pack of cheese balls.
A bit expensive, and smaller in size, but the closest I have found.
Anonymous # 12. February 2007, 07:46
I just found out tonight that Cheez Balls have been discontinued. I've already written Planters....begging them to bring them back and asking them if there is anywhere that still sells them.
I feel betrayed! I grew up on those things! The memories....I'd be watching TV and eat 3 of them....then give a couple to my dog. He loved them just as much as I did....and he was a picky eater!
Anonymous # 27. February 2007, 23:23
I've been so upset over the loss of my Planters Cheez balls that it's just crazy. I've looked everywhere and that how I came upon this webpage. I am certainly writing to Planters about this. I loved those cheese balls better than ANYTHING! :-(
Anonymous # 28. February 2007, 23:37
It's true! I've been looking for them for weeks. I feared I would google them only to find out this truth. NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Anonymous # 9. March 2007, 03:45
I had only just discovered the joys of Planters CheezBalls RIGHT before they stopped making them!!! That's twice in my life that Planters has disappointed me but stopping a good idea. Anybody else remember those peanut butter-flavored (and peanut-shaped) cookie things that had chocolate cream in them? I'm going to go complain on the website. Jerks.
Anonymous # 17. March 2007, 16:48
Have you tried Cheetos Mix and Move? They are X's and O's and taste very close to Cheez Balls. I am pregnant and all I want are Cheez Balls but I am settling for the Mix and Moves.
Anonymous # 18. March 2007, 06:20
i miss planters cheese balls
Anonymous # 18. March 2007, 18:20
Blame Michael P. Senackerib
NORTHFIELD, IL - April 21, 2003 - Kraft Foods North America announced today that Michael P. Senackerib, 37, Vice President of Marketing, Crackers, Biscuit Division, has been named Executive Vice President, Kraft Foods North America, and General Manager, Snacks Division...In his new role, Senackerib will be responsible for the company's various snack products, including Planters peanuts, cashews, almonds, mixed nuts and trail mixes, Planters baking, snacking and on-the-go nuts, PLANTERS CHEEZ MANIA CHEEZ BALLS and Cornnuts...
http://www.kraft.com/newsroom/04212003.html
Anonymous # 19. March 2007, 18:54
OMG - I've been looking for Planter's Cheez Balls all over the mid-west for the past two years to no avail and now I find this blog which explains it. I'm not pregnant but have had a Planter's Cheez Balls craving for months!!! Think I'll be doing an email compaigne.
Thanks for the info!!!
D.
Anonymous # 22. March 2007, 19:43
........ok.........went online today b/c I was having a craving AGAIN for those yummy Planters Cheeseballs that just melt in your mouth....you know.....the ones that are missing from every darned store you go into....found that they don't make them anymore from reading these posts....ABSOLUTELY SAD!
Please do what "Anonymous" says below.......I did. Maybe if we all do it, we'll get them back!
Anonymous writes:
ok, i emailed planters last week about this same thing. I heard back from them from "Kim"
if you guys use "Cheeseballs" as the subject we might make some ground. this is her email. I know its a weird looking email but i promise my soul its not spam. I responded and its also not a dead email. Make sure you say cheeseballs in the subject to get momentum.
OnlineTeam2@casupport.com
thats the only way i know to get those damn thing back.
hopefully we can make an impact!!!
Anonymous # 25. March 2007, 23:48
Anonymous # 4. April 2007, 16:13
These are the confessions of crazy Planters Cheeseballs seekers. Myself included. I am very disappointed.
Anonymous # 4. April 2007, 16:48
I hope everyone here that says they contacted planters actually did. I just did, and they did indeed say that not enough people bought the cheese products. The guy on the phone even said he loved them as a kid. He claimed he will bring it up to the marketing department , so i guess we will see. Maybe if enough people complain, they will bring it back. Because I have to admit, A LOT of people posted here about missing those cheese balls. I've looked for other old nostalgia things and find a couple postings but nothing like this. ps , can't find anything about the old Mr. Phipps Pretzel Chips.
Anonymous # 16. April 2007, 16:48
I can't believe that I'm not alone missing my cheez balls and cheez curls. Why on earth would they discontinue them. If there are this many nuts out there like me looking for them on the net, surely there are others out there missing them. The best thing to ever come out of planters, and they dicontinue it. I miss that cheezy goodness. Well, I'm going to write them today and give them the url to this site so they can see how many cheez-crazed lunatics they've created. BRING THE CHEEZ BALLS AND CHEEZ CURLS BACK!
Anonymous # 18. April 2007, 05:45
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous # 19. April 2007, 16:28
Yesterday, I had my pregnancy craving start up again. This time it was for Planters Cheez Balls. I had my boyfriend drive me to five different stores in search of them and each time came up empty-handed. I can't tell you how upset I was to find this site in my vain attempt to find a place to order them online. I sent an email to Planters, begging them to either bring back the cheez balls or give me the recipe. I also called and spoke with a woman the probably thought I was crazy. I explained to her that there are so many people online that are upset, that if the people in production would just look at the response to people since they've been discontinued they'd find that we'd be willing to buy enough to keep them on the shelf. (I know right now, I'd be willing to spend a hundred bucks on just one can of those delicious cheez balls.) I'm also writing and suggesting to the Vermont Country Store, Cracker Barrel, and other stores that carry discontinued classic food items like this and suggest that everyone else do the same. I've even thought about going to their plant in Glenview, IL and protesting! It seems like many of us are pregnant women with a craving, it would be so amusing to paint our pregnant bellies orange and start a huge picket line. :p
Anonymous # 19. April 2007, 22:52
http://www.myspace.com/bringbackcheezballs
Anonymous # 19. April 2007, 23:00
Also: http://www.petitiononline.com/cheez123/petition.html
Anonymous # 26. April 2007, 15:28
Noooooooooooooooooooo I was craving them today and went online to find they were discontinued? Like many here I have fond memories. Mine was every time we went ice skating we'd get a bag of these, the little 50 cent snack bags.
Anonymous # 21. May 2007, 01:21
I have been totally freaking out about not being able to find cheese balls anywhere. I can eat a whole can in one sitting, and i like(d) to throw them up and catch them in my mouth. I finally find out why I cant find them anywhere now!!!! Ahh! Bring them back, I am craving them!
Anonymous # 30. May 2007, 18:28
asteroids are kind of like planters. close as we will get i think
Anonymous # 2. June 2007, 03:44
I read through each one of these comments, hoping by the end there would be a happy ending.
Damn.
It was cathartic reading all these, though.
Anonymous # 2. July 2007, 14:01
WTF?!
Is there anything we can do to get them to produce these again?
Anonymous # 11. July 2007, 17:53
ty for your blog. i know i'm not alone in my search and sadness now. i have signed the petition. even if they'd sell the recipe i'd be happy to have anyone make them.
Anonymous # 7. August 2007, 18:21
I am DESPERATE for Cheez Balls, I will Seriously do ANYTHING to get me some, if ANYONE knows how to get ahold of any, I would seriously pay like a zillion dollars for some. rofl :(
Anonymous # 8. August 2007, 18:33
I must say that I suspected such for some time, but flatly refused to look online to confirm my fears...hoping against hope that it was simply suspended and production would resume.
Alas...brutal reality.
A friend recently bought a massive plastic canister of cheese balls made by "UTZ"...which I must say is the "closest" any other brand of cheese ball has ever come...and even they get old after just a handful.
What could we have done Planters (Kraft)? It's not as though this product was poorly received. I cannot think of anyone in my ENTIRE LIFE who expressed a "dislike" for Cheez Balls...on the contrary...it tended to be the first item to vanish from any table or tray. This "must" have translated to sizable sales. Were they too expensive to make? I recall they were more expensive then cheetos and the like, but I was willing to pay...I'd pay double the cost of cheetos for half the quantity.
Planters Cheez Balls weren't just some snackfood...it was a DISTINCT flavor that recalls memories and smiles in EVERYONE who had one...or two...or 12...cases.
Anonymous # 8. August 2007, 18:46
Just an FYI...currently, the Planters website is asking people to tell them their best memories involving a Planter's product.
Help declare your love for the Cheez Ball! Tell them your stories!
Anonymous # 30. August 2007, 21:32
yes they cancelled them they said because not enough sold. what a load of bull.
petition them at:
kraft foods global inc.
1 kraft court
glenview, illinios 60025
Anonymous # 3. September 2007, 21:34
I've been looking for these forever and now I finally got the news I feel like they just snuffed out a signfigant portion of my past. that and really nothing out there compares to the planters cheese balls. I am going to contact the company that
makes these http://www.munchking.com/cheese_balls.htm and see if they are anything like the real thing. If so I will let you know.
Why is it that everything I like gets canceled? I refuse to beleive that the world only likes crap and that good things don't sell. I know I'm not some crazy mutant. I almost believe that stores intentionally don't stock stuff that sells well. Ive baught out a stores entire stock of a product countless times only to be ignored by the owners when I ask them to restock. and thats the last I ever see of the product. It's almost as if they have the logic "if the product sells out in a short period of time NEVER restock this item again!" I cant tell you how many times I've been ignored by store owners that fail to ever restock anything, not just snack foods but seriously anything that I used often enough to buy it out.
I'm just tired of this constantly happening to me I will get over this eventually but I would be lying to you if i didn't say that this hurts big time.
Anonymous # 10. September 2007, 22:06
I just chatted with someone at the Vermont Country Store website, and she said to go to their site ( http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/ ) and at the top of every page, there's a "suggest a product" link.
Vermont Country Store really does have a lot of pull, so I think we should all go there and put in the suggestion.
Bring back Da Cheesy Balls!!
:-D.
Anonymous # 11. September 2007, 23:28
I need Cheez Balls! I've been looking for them for 6 months and now I find out this. I'm devestated.
Anonymous # 18. September 2007, 22:14
This is bad news
Anonymous # 25. September 2007, 15:32
I'm from the Caribbean so when I could not find any Planters Cheese Balls or Cheese Sticks, I figured that they stopped importing the darned things. Even when I heard from a friend in New York that he had not seen them for a while, I figured 'Hey it's a big country. He might have just missed the one store with them.' Little did I know that now as the cravign has started up again there are no Cheese Balls to satisfy me. Is there any hope left? Or do I have to keep making my own cheese snacks?
Anonymous # 2. October 2007, 11:45
Everyone that wants these delicious snacks back, please call the company that makes them at 1-800-932-7800. I just did and hopefully if they get enough people calling they'll bring it back on the shelves for us to consume again! :)