Pubs to join restaurants in chicken shortages due to supplier & staff crisis

PUBS will soon join restaurants in running out of chicken due to staff shortages at suppliers and the pingdemic, experts warn.

Nando’s closed 50 restaurants when food ran out due to delivery delays, as we told yesterday, and last week KFC also ran low.

The British Poultry Council said its members had cut production by up to ten per cent due to staff problems at farms and processing plants.

A source said shortages were fluctuating by between ten and 20 per cent — and urged the Government to make emergency changes to get workers in from overseas to “fill this gap.”

Lynx Purchasing, which works with 60 suppliers, said the effects will soon hit pubs.

Boss Rachel Dobson said: “A fast food brand dependent on a specific product such as chicken sees the impact more quickly — but most pubs and restaurants have chicken dishes on the menu.”

Nando’s, meanwhile, said it had sent 70 staff to help suppliers.

It said the move had already “had a positive impact” and all its restaurants should be open on Saturday.