Could you repeat that: WHY has your product has been dropped?

I'm seeing a disturbing trend on products we regularly buy. Seeing them disappear is not as bad as finding out why.

First off: Knorr-Lipton Parmesan & Risotto Rice; This product was dropped about two years ago. It was always the one Knorr-Lipton Rice that was out of stock at all our local stores (I admit, when we found it in stock, we bought all of it to stock up). When I would ask a manager or stock clerk, they would tell me that that one product flew off the shelf. It's no surprise as it was the best rice side dish Knorr-Lipton has ever made. The product was on their website for about three months after it disappeared. I tried e-mailing and calling them, but "waning sales numbers" didn't make sense since it was selling out all over the place around here. A manager at our local Dominick's (who always ordered extra of that type due to the demand) gave the most likely explanation: That Knorr-Lipton dropped that flavor because none of their other products were selling (enough), the entire product line had to sell well to justify it, one product shouldn't overshadow the others. I would think it would be the other way around; drop the other products that aren't selling. I thought that this was possible, albeit far-fetched marketing-wise.
Flash forward two years: The kids are the main ones who eat the rice now (we try to eat a salad), and the current flavor they like the best is Knorr-Lipton Herb & Butter rice. The same thing is starting to happen; it's the flavor that is constantly sold out at local stores . When we find it, we load up on it, I've seen other folks loading up on it as well, and asked them about it, a few have ended up telling me of their lament of the demise of the Parmesan & Risotto Rice we miss as well. Something is screwy over at Knorr.

Next up: Roll-on antiperspirant.