Panic as KFC chicken drought continues
Police field emergency calls amid near hysteria after fast food chain closes 900 branches
The closure of 900 KFC branches caused near hysteria yesterday, prompting 999 calls, chicken smuggling and even the intervention of an MP. A change in KFC’S chicken delivery company meant branches remained closed for a fourth day because their core ingredient was unavailable. The Metropolitan Police confirmed it had received “timewasting” calls about the closures. They responded: “Fried chicken is not a police matter.” KFC’S new contractor, DHL, blamed operational issues for the shortages.
FOR most people the temporary closure of their favourite fast food restaurant would result in no more than a minor grumble.
But yesterday the closure of 900 KFC branches caused near hysteria in Britain, prompting 999 calls, chicken smuggling and even the intervention of an MP.
In a crisis unprecedented in the UK, Kentucky ran out of fried chicken. And after four days of restaurant closures its absence became too much for some.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed it had received “timewasting” calls about the closures. The response was succinct: “Fried chicken is not a police matter.”
Tower Hamlets police in London posted a public message saying: “Please do not contact us about the KFC Crisis – it is not a police matter if your favourite eatery is not serving the menu that you desire.”
Neil Coyle, Labour MP for Bermondsey, said constituents had written to him asking when they would next be able to get hold of the deepfried food.
And Luke Pollard, Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said he had been contacted by constituents desperate for an update.
KFC is the UK’S second most popular takeaway restaurant behind Mcdonald’s, with 42 per cent of the population saying that they eat there, according to the market data portal Statista.
More than half of KFC’S 900 stores were forced to close because of a chicken shortage caused by problems with the firm’s supply and distribution.
The fast food chain switched its delivery contract from South Africanowned distribution group Bidvest to the courier service DHL last week. DHL blamed “operational issues” for the disruption.
Tons of chicken are expected to go to waste as a result of the problem. It is thought that the chaos is costing £1million a day.
KFC workers were encouraged to take a break until stores reopened. But many appeared desperate to work with some reportedly taking matters into their own hands. KFC said that it was “urgently investigating” an incident where workers were filmed loading what looked like meat from the local butcher into the back door of their premises.
The chain is also looking into reports that staff members approached a local butcher to ask for all the chicken in the shop.
The company said it had strict food safety policies and staff should not be buying chicken locally.
Last night KFC said it had reopened half its closed stores, but that failed to dampen growing fears that the issue could roll on for weeks.
Although KFC put up a website page stating which stores were open, updating it as more outlets re-opened, there was increasing concern about the chicken shortage.
Some customers described the situation on social media as an “apocalypse”.
One Twitter user posted: “The world is going to end soon – how has KFC run out of chicken?”
Jane Merrick, a political commentator, tweeted: “The chicken shortage is the kind of thing that could accidentally bring down a government.”
A KFC spokesman said: “We’ve closed some of our restaurants because we won’t compromise the quality of our food.”
DHL said: “Due to operational issues a number of deliveries in recent days have been incomplete or delayed. We are working with KFC and our partners to rectify the situation.”