KFC in chaos as chain runs out of chicken
Fewer than half of Scotland’s KFC stores have been able to stay open after the fast food firm ran out of its main ingredient: chicken.
KFC said “teething problems” with new delivery partner DHL had left hundreds of stores across Britain with shortages.
Only 21 of the chain’s 53 restaurants in Scotland were listed as open on the company’s website yesterday.
KFC were forced to run a limited menu or shortened hours at some stores. Only about 260 of the UK’S 900 outlets have avoided closing.
It is a finger lickin’ treat, which is many a family’s weekend goto treat meal. But lovers of fast food outlet KFC were disappointed when the chain closed hundreds of its stores – including more than half of its Scottish outlets – because they had run out of chicken.
The fast food firm said it had a new “delivery partner” to transport its meat around the country, but that “teething problems” meant hundreds of its outlets across the UK had been hit by shortages.
While some restaurants were closed completely, others have been forced to operate a limited menu or shorter opening times. And some customers complained they had queued for their meal, only to find when they reached the front of the queue that anything containing chicken was off the menu.
Only 21 of KFC’S 53 restaurants in Scotland are listed as open on the its website in the wake of the delivery problems.
A spokesman for the firm said: “The chicken crossed the road, just not to our restaurants. We’ve brought a new delivery partner on board, but they’ve had a couple of teething problems – getting fresh chicken out to 900 restaurants across the country is pretty complex. We won’t compromise on quality, so no deliveries has meant some of our restaurants are closed, and others are operating a limited menu, or shortened hours.
“We know that this might have inconvenienced some of you over the last few days, and disappointed you when you wanted your fried chicken fix – we’re really sorry about that.”
It has published a list of the outlets which are open – around 260 of its 900 sites.
KFC last week switched its delivery contract to DHL from South African-owned distribution group Bidvest. The distribution network uses software developed by the firm Quick Service Logistics (QSL).
DHL said: “Due to operational issues, a number of deliveries in recent days have been incomplete or delayed. We are working with our partners, KFC and QSL, to rectify the situation as a priority and apologise for any inconvenience.”
Chicken lovers took to Twitter to express their dismay. @shafiqlatif wrote: “Just went to the Meadowbank Edinburgh branch for some hot bites and they’re shut due to lack of chicken. When did kfc ever run out of chicken??”
William Wadsworth added: “I’ve wanted KFC for 3 days and there has been no chicken at any of them I have been toinmanchesteristhistheend of the world or has someone in finance not paid the bill ????? ”
DHL announced in November that it had been appointed alongside QSL to manage the supply and distribution of food products and packaging for around 900 KFC restaurants throughout the UK. It is thought that Bidvest had previously held the contract for almost a decade.
Mick Rix, national officer for the GMB union, said that Bidvest had had a network of distribution centres across the UK, while DHL has just one. He said: “We tried to warn KFC this decision would have consequences – now the chickens are coming home to roost.”