The coronavirus-related supply chain issues have started developing chicken tenders shortages all over the country.
Meanwhile, fast food chains and domestic consumers are likely to face a price hike for the food item that is widely consumed in many households.
Chicken tenders going short, high prices are expected this winter
Kerry Sanders of NBC News reported as chicken tenders require more processing and packaging material before the final delivery, they are likely to get expensive in local markets.
According to Sanders, tenders cost almost $3.99 per pound in a value pack, which is a significant increase of $1, compared to last year.
This shortage of chicken tenders was highly anticipated. Tom Super, the spokesman of the National Chicken Council, said in May the demand for the tenders was high, even earlier this year.
Tyson, the second largest chicken processor in the US, also acknowledged the shortage of various food items, especially tenders.
Supply chain crisis now threatening chicken tendershttps://t.co/My0F9iLGJ8
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 2, 2021
In September this year, KFC stopped showing chicken tenders in their advertisements, noting the franchise was facing a supply chain crisis of the said commodity.
Kevin Hochman, KFC’s US president, said back then, the company was focusing on the things they can supply consistently.
In relation to this, Kentucky Fried Chicken and A&W have adopted alternate marketing strategies to omit chicken tenders from their menus.
Parents are also unhappy over the shortage of chicken tenders. A mom from Scottsdale, Arizona, noted that her kids are not happy when they do not see tenders on the tables.
Likewise, she noted when kids have limited eating options, excluding chicken tenders from the table further strains the situation.
Big news this morning: Possible chicken tenders shortage https://t.co/RJiQrWNBZs
— Aaron Perry (@AaronPerryWx) December 2, 2021
The National Chicken Council claimed each American is likely to eat almost 100 pounds of chicken on average this year, which is further worsening the crisis.
Similarly, the famous fast-food chain Bojangles also had a chicken tender shortage, their supreme menu item, which left their customers disappointed.
Top retail stores, including Costco, likewise reported a shortage of the well-loved food item.
Representatives of grocery stores met with Biden to discuss the crisis
Meanwhile, the government is getting involved in easing down the food supply chain crisis.
On November 29, the representatives of Walmart, Kroger, and many other grocery stores met with Joe Biden in Washington D.C. to discuss the persisting food staple crisis.
The meeting came after Biden’s assurance on November 23 that the government was doing much to ease down the burdens of the ports.
Biden has already introduced a Port Action Plan that is supposed to ease bottlenecks at the US ports, especially on the Western coasts.
Many fast food companies already started filling up their freezers at expensive rates to stock the food; thus, the additional charges are likely to be paid by customers.
The supply chain crisis already increased demand for many other food items this winter.
With the glass bottle shortage for wines and spirits, containers for maple syrups, and coffee cups stuck on ports, the prices of these items have already gone up.
Similarly, Thanksgiving this year was historically expensive, with turkey prices going up, amid the higher demands.
