Did someone say KF and forget the C? Maybe, because during Australia's COVID-inspired staff crunch not even fast-food giants are immune.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
Fried chicken giant KFC acknowledged the squeeze in a statement on Monday addressing the issues.
"This isn't the way we wanted to start the year," the chain said, "like many businesses across Australia, our supply chain and workforce has been impacted by COVID.
"Rest assured we're doing all we can to get back to fryin' everyone's faves as soon as possible."
Due to isolation requirement on COVID-positive staff and contractors, KFC franchises are offering "reduced menus" at some locations.
In a statement, the Australian Chicken Meat Federation (ACMF) said that highly processed poultry such as cut up, filleted and skinless chicken were the most scarce of all chicken products.
"There are plenty of chickens out on farms, but just not enough people to pick them up, process them and distribute the products to stores, " the association said.
Supply chains for larger supermarkets such as Woolworths, Coles and Aldi have seen nationwide disruptions - with some distribution centres operating with only 30 per cent of their workforce.
Aussies have confronted empty supermarket shelves previously, as supermarkets struggled to get supply of essential products due to agricultural worker shortages and panic buying in early 2020.
READ MORE:
However, industry leaders say this time local supply chain interruptions are to blame, as more and more workers are required to isolate in line with COVID regulations.
"To give you a sense of the magnitude of the challenge, we are experiencing COVID-driven absences of 20 per cent-plus in our distribution centres and 10 per cent-plus in our stores," Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci said.
Mr Banducci said the supermarkets have supply, they just ultimately don't have enough staff to process the produce, or to stock the shelves.
National cabinet is set to meet again on Thursday to discuss the ongoing pandemic, including national food shortages and testing supplies.