13 December 2024

When will we finally have enough chickens?

By Ronald Smith

Imagine this: you’re at the grocery store, ready to grab a few eggs and maybe some chicken for dinner. But when you get to the poultry section, you’re met with empty shelves. No chicken to be found.

This may sound strange, but it’s a situation we find ourselves in right now. There’s a shortage of chickens, and it’s causing a bit of a frenzy. But when will this shortage end? When will we finally have enough chickens?

I wish I had a crystal ball to give you a definitive answer. But the truth is, predicting when the chicken shortage will end is a bit like trying to predict the weather. There are so many factors at play, and it’s hard to say for sure when the storm will pass.

One of the main causes of the shortage is the disruption in the supply chain. The pandemic has thrown a wrench in the gears, making it difficult for farmers to raise and process chickens as efficiently as before.

Another factor is the increased demand for chicken. It seems like everyone wants to cook at home these days, and chicken is a versatile protein that can be used in countless recipes. This surge in demand has put a strain on the already struggling supply.

But fear not, my chicken-loving friend. There is hope on the horizon. Farmers are working hard to get their operations back up to speed, and supply chains are slowly but surely being repaired.

In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to weather the storm. First, be patient. I know it’s frustrating to not be able to find your favorite chicken products, but remember that this shortage won’t last forever.

Second, get creative in the kitchen. Instead of relying solely on chicken, experiment with other proteins like beef, pork, or even plant-based alternatives. You might discover some new favorite dishes along the way.

Lastly, support your local farmers. Many small-scale farmers have been hit hard by this shortage, so buying directly from them can make a big difference. Plus, you’ll be getting fresh, high-quality chicken that you can feel good about.

So, when will we finally have enough chickens? It’s hard to say for sure. But by staying patient, getting creative, and supporting our local farmers, we can all do our part to bring an end to this chicken shortage. Hang in there, my friend.

When will we finally have enough chickens?

It’s been tough for restaurants lately, as there’s a shortage of poultry. I know, crazy right?

The reason behind it is those winter storms that hit the southern part of the US. They really did a number on the chicken supply. And if that wasn’t enough, the high demand during the pandemic made things even worse, especially for chicken wings.

I wanted to find out how restaurant owners are dealing with this chicken shortage. So, I reached out to a few of them.

Guess what? One of the owners is doing something that small businesses usually do when supplies are low.

Restaurants are Struggling with the Chicken Shortage

To make it work, we’ve had to increase our prices, says Sean Kim, who owns part of Holdaak in California. Chicken is in almost all of our dishes, so it’s been a big challenge.

They’re also trying to make changes to their inventory from the start.

I’ve had a bunch of meetings with new suppliers too. In fact, we’ve changed our main suppliers twice since COVID started, I say.

They’re telling me that they hope things will go back to normal in a few months, I add.

Restaurants Making Changes

Other restaurants are doing things differently. Lori Bogedin, a chef and food expert who owns TwigsCafe, explains.

Some restaurants are making changes to their menu, she says. They’re offering different kinds of meat or chicken alternatives to meet the growing demand.

But even with these changes, some places are still losing money.

The chicken shortage has caused many businesses to go into debt because they have to sell at lower prices, she explains.

Unfortunately, some places are doing even worse.

So, guess what? Nando’s, that super popular restaurant chain, had to close down 45 of its outlets because of a shortage, I heard Bogedin say.

According to her, almost 10% of restaurants have stopped operating. Can you believe it? It’s all thanks to a combo of the pandemic and this crazy chicken shortage we’re facing.

Blaming the Pandemic

Now, some people in the industry think it’s all because of the pandemic. Kirk Vogel, the big shot President and Owner of the Walnut Grill Restaurant Group, has something to say about it.

He says, COVID has caused us a whole bunch of chicken problems. You see, the plants had to shut down to keep people safe, or they simply didn’t have enough staff to keep running.

Apparently, Vogel’s suppliers are telling him that these shortages will keep going until the end of the year, and we might get some relief in the Spring of 2022. But hey, who knows? It all depends on the plants being able to produce enough chicken for us.

You know, it’s interesting how size can really impact things, especially when it comes to the chicken shortage we’re currently experiencing.

Have you heard of Duffy’s Sports Grill? It’s actually the biggest restaurant group in Florida that’s owned and operated by a family. They’ve actually been able to get their hands on chicken wings with just a few small challenges.

Joe Webb, the president of Duffy’s, believes that their success comes from building strong relationships with local suppliers. And you know what? It’s paid off because they only had to make a small increase in prices for their customers.

Even though the prices have almost doubled for everyone, Duffy’s only had a slight bump in their pricing, Joe Webb explains.

But here’s the thing, it doesn’t seem like the chicken shortage is going away anytime soon. Suppliers haven’t given any indications of when they expect it to improve.

Most people agree that it will take some time before supply can catch up with the demand, says Bogedin.