Popeyes has been stockpiling chicken for SIX MONTHS ahead of nuggets launch

Popeyes has been stockpiling chicken for SIX MONTHS ahead of nuggets launch
Popeyes has been stockpiling chicken for SIX MONTHS ahead of nuggets launch

Fast food chain Popeyes has revealed it has been stockpiling frozen chicken for six months as it prepares to roll out a new line of chicken nuggets amid an industrywide shortage in poultry and spiking prices.

 The company appears to be looking to avoid a repeat of the disastrous 2019 rollout of its chicken sandwich, which saw long lines at some locations and fist fights when stocks ran out.

Demand for chicken has surged following a meat processing slowdown during the pandemic, and prices are spiking as suppliers struggle to keep up and restaurants reopen.

Fears of a shortfall have forced Popeyes to stockpile meat in an industry that typically runs lean.

Popeyes Americas President Sami Siddiqui said the company's strategy was reflective of a broader market environment that is emerging from the coronavirus pandemic. 

Popeyes announced that it has been stockpiling frozen chicken for the past six months in anticipation of its new line of chicken nugges, which are slated to go on sale July 27

Popeyes announced that it has been stockpiling frozen chicken for the past six months in anticipation of its new line of chicken nugges, which are slated to go on sale July 27

The fast food chain would appear to be trying to avoid a repeat of the disastrous 2019 rollout of its chicken sandwich, which saw long lines and the occasional fist fight as supplies ran out

The fast food chain would appear to be trying to avoid a repeat of the disastrous 2019 rollout of its chicken sandwich, which saw long lines and the occasional fist fight as supplies ran out 

'Demand is very high right now, and consumer spending is surging' Siddiqui told Fortune. 'We're planning appropriately.'

Popeye's nuggets are slated to go on sale nationwide on July 27, after tests in markets including Austin and Denver.

The news came as other fast-food chains have struggled to keep their poultry products in stock amid dwindling supplies.  

KFC has said in recent earnings calls that it has struggled to keep up with demand, and in late April chicken-and-biscuits chain BoJangles reported that it had run low on chicken tenders across its network of 750 locations.  

Suppliers too have been struggling to keep up, with the United States Department of Agriculture reporting that the nation's stockpile of chicken meat had plummeted by 200million pounds or 20% compared to last year. 

Popeye's decision comes as frozen chicken supplies have dwindled over the past year as demand has surged and suppliers have struggled to keep up

Popeye's decision comes as frozen chicken supplies have dwindled over the past year as demand has surged and suppliers have struggled to keep up 

US Foods, an industry supplier reported in its July chicken trends report that labor shortages, freight costs and supply issues continue to be a problem for most meat processors coming off of the pandemic.

With constrained supply, and increased demand has come higher prices, with the USDA reporting that at $3.25 per pound, the price of chicken wings in June was double what it was the same time last year.

The price of wholesale chicken breast has also skyrocketed, with prices jumping to $1.91 per pound from 93 cents in the same period last year.

Overall wholesale chicken prices were 93 cents per pound in June compare to 68 cents in 2020. 

Dr. David Anderson, an economist for Texas A&M Agrilife Extension services said that the demand for fast food chicken sandwiches in particular was driving a surge in price for chicken breast. 

With a crunch in supply and increase in demand overall wholesale chicken prices have soared over the past year

With a crunch in supply and

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