Feathers fly as chicken shortage shuts KFCs across Britain
Most of the 900 KFC outlets in the UK and Ireland forced to close because of a shortage of chicken, blamed on "teething problems" with new delivery partner, DHL.
Fast-food fans were in a flutter Monday after most of the 900 KFC outlets in the UK and Ireland were forced to close because of a shortage of chicken.
Good. I'm glad. No #KentuckyFriedChicken - get home and go cook a decent meal #KFC #KFCCrisis #KFCClousures
— Charlene Jodie King (@Charlene685) February 19, 2018
The company apologised to customers, blaming "teething problems" with its new delivery partner, DHL.
Spotted earlier today. An emergency #KFC delivery perhaps. pic.twitter.com/RcOVdX4xkM
— MJ BakerFoodservice (@mjbfoodservice) February 19, 2018
The real reason behind the #KFC chicken shortages! pic.twitter.com/yDeX0D0rk4
— Aaron Ashmore (@aaronashmore8) February 19, 2018
KFC first apologised for the problems on Saturday. In an update Monday, it listed almost 300 stores as open, but did not say when the rest might join them.
BREAKING: MAJOR CLOSURES AROUND THE UK. Due to a supplier change (bidvest to DHL) deliveries have not arrived, leaving stores without stock - EXCLUSIVE QUOTES from an assistant manager to follow this tweet #KFC #KFCCrisis
— KFC (@KFC_ITK) February 17, 2018
It said those branches that remained open were 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," the company said in a statement.
DHL, which recently took over the KFC contract from Bidvest Logistics, said that "due to operational issues a number of deliveries in recent days have been incomplete or delayed."
"We tried to warn KFC this decision would have consequences – well now the chickens are coming home to roost. Three weeks ago they knew they had made a terrible mistake, but by then it was too late." says GMB's Mick Rix @RixyieOrganiser #KFCCrisis #kfc https://t.co/p8RszklMRa
— GMB UNION (@GMB_union) February 19, 2018
When DHL announced in October that it had won the KFC contract alongside logistics firm QSL, it promised to "re-write the rule book and set a new benchmark for delivering fresh products to KFC in a sustainable way."