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Highlights
- A KFC chicken shortage has been brought about by insufficiencies in the supply chain as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, it’s unclear when this issue will be remedied
- Woolworths and Coles supermarkets have also been adversely affected by the new Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus
- On Monday, the national cabinet endorsed new guidelines for workers in critical supply chains, including food delivery
The Omicron virus is becoming a problem for the Australian supply chain. Some Australian KFC outlets have been forced to reduce their menu options due to a chicken shortage.
The shortage has been brought about by insufficiencies in the supply chain as a result of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 virus. Furthermore, it’s unclear when this issue will be remedied.
One particular KFC restaurant in Perth reportedly had a sign outside its door alerting customers to the absence of original chicken, zingers, fillets or wings on their menu due to shortages brought about by the supply issues.
KFC have addressed the issue on their website, saying, like many Australian businesses, their supply chain and workforce have been adversely affected by the Covid-19 virus. However, they promised they’re working towards getting back to “fryin' everyone's faves as soon as possible”.
KFC Customers Vent on Social Media
A few KFC customers have expressed their frustrations on social media, with one customer posting on the KFC Facebook page, claiming they haven’t been able to order their iconic “finger lickin’ wicked wings” for two weeks.
Others took to Twitter to voice their disappointment, with one claiming that a large portion of KFC stores along the Victorian and NSW border have been closed due to chicken shortages.
image source: © Jetcityimage | Megapixl.com
New Guidelines For Critical Supply Chain Workers
On Monday, the national cabinet endorsed new guidelines for workers in critical supply chains, including food delivery.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the changes, saying it would allow close contact between those working in food and grocery production to be able to work if certain requirements were met.
Mr. Morrison assured Australians that these changes had been approved by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. However, those workers will be required to get a negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) result on the first day and then take a RAT every second day until day six.
The Prime Minister also said the government would also be scrapping mandatory testing requirements for employees of small-to-medium businesses.
KFC Customers Frustrated by Chicken Shortage
Woolworths and Coles Also Affected
Woolworths (ASX:WOW) and Coles (ASX:COL) supermarkets are also adversely affected by the new Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus.
Australia’s chief medical officer, Professor Paul Kelly, said the Woolworths and Coles absenteeism rate was between 30 and 50 percent, resulting in empty supermarket shelves and meat shortages.
Professor Kelly said that he had looked into whether supply shortages had been caused by absenteeism or a shortage of close contact workers and said that it was a mixture of both.
The Future For Supply Chains
The Omicron virus has been the most contagious so far, which has caused major disruptions to the Australian economy. Fortunately, the side effects of this variant appear to be much more mild.
Therefore, hopefully, a herd immunity combined with a high vaccination rate will result in more close contact workers being able to return to work.
