Chicken-lovers must feather it through the Great Poultry Crisis of 2021.
America’s largest fast-food companies reported earnings this week, and Wingstop executives from KFC insisted on a dire situation – there just isn’t enough chicken to go around.
Officials said this week that a slowdown in meat-processing has led to a decrease in meat processing due to a steep decline in demand for recently rolled chicken sandwiches.
Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs said in a conference call with investors on Wednesday, “The demand for new sandwiches has been so strong that our main challenge has been the general tightening of domestic chicken supplies.” KFC, which is owned by Yum Brands, recently designed a new fried chicken sandwich.
Dallas, Texas-based Wingstop also noted a shortfall this week, attributing it to suppliers who are struggling to recruit new workers to meet demand.
Companies in other industries have also noted the difficulty of recruiting new workers, with some business owners attributing the problem to rising unemployment benefits that make it more attractive to remain on government assistance.
“Suppliers are struggling, as many people in our industry employ people to process chicken, thus putting unexpected pressure on the amount of birds that can be processed and all of the chicken in America Is negatively impacting the supply of parts, not just the wings. ”Wingstop CEO Charles Morrison said on Thursday.
He said, “Until we see a notable change in the availability of labor for poultry producers, a labor shortage that we believe is largely filled by the amount of government incentives, we estimate that by the remainder of 2021 Wing prices may rise for, ”he said.
Bojangles, famous for its chicken and biscuits, is not immune either.
The Charlotte, North Carolina-based chain said in a tweet to a disappointed customer this week that “We are experiencing a system-wide shortage short but they will be back soon!” The company did not immediately return the Post’s request for comment.
Some Buffalo Wild Wings locations have reportedly told customers that they are temporarily out of chicken wings, too.
Chicken has long been one of the most popular meats in the US, but in recent years there has been increased demand for various fast-food chains to launch their own fried chicken sandwiches.
Popeyes, owned by Restaurant Brands International, launched Chicken Wars in 2019 with a $ 3.99 sandwich that was so popular that it sold out in many restaurants. This led to other chains trying to compete, including burger joints such as McDonald’s, which are understood to be the so-called Chicken Wars.
The increase in demand comes with an investigation into security issues inside meat and poultry issues during the epidemic.
Many plants became COVID-19 hotspots, particularly across the Midwest, and lawsuits allege the industry sparked the outbreak. The Trump administration ordered the plants to remain open despite safety concerns to avoid serious concerns.
An Industry Officer in North Carolina Told WSOC-TV The likelihood is that the growth will continue as more restaurants fully reopen.
“What we need,” the official told the local TV station, “is a chicken with four wings.”
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