"Looking for Chicken Drumsticks and Wings"... Chicken Shops in Emergency Due to Partial Meat Supply Shortage

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] "Seeking chicken wings supply in Seoul and Gyeonggi areas."

Due to the impact of COVID-19 and avian influenza (AI), the supply of chicken parts has sharply declined, causing chicken restaurants nationwide to struggle with procuring chicken legs and wings.

According to the chicken industry on the 18th, the supply of chicken parts has decreased by nearly half in the past month. According to the Livestock Products Quality Evaluation Institute, in November last year, 54,170 kg of chicken wings and 263,285 kg of legs were supplied. However, in January this year, chicken wings supply dropped by more than 20% to 40,886 kg, and legs supply fell to only 125,882 kg, a decrease of more than half.

Among chicken parts, legs and wings are supplied for chicken dishes, while breasts are mainly supplied to catering companies. However, due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, catering operations have been suspended, causing chicken breast inventory to accumulate continuously. From the perspective of chicken processing companies, slaughtering chickens solely for legs and wings results in significant losses, leading to a reduction in the production of chicken parts. The prolonged AI outbreak has also had an impact. Broilers used for parts need to be raised longer than those supplied as whole chickens. Recently, fearing shipment restrictions due to AI, poultry farmers have advanced the shipment timing, and with an increase in culled broilers, the overall chicken supply has become insufficient.

At 6 p.m. on the 17th, the 'Wing Combo' menu consisting of chicken wings was completely sold out at a chicken franchise store in Seoul. (Photo by Baedal Minjok)

Menus consisting of chicken legs and wings have been selling out early every day, increasing customer dissatisfaction. Ultimately, business owners have been searching nationwide for chicken parts. On online cafes for franchise chicken store owners across the country, posts seeking chicken parts have been continuously appearing. One franchisee said, "We received a three-day supply, but the wing menu sold out in one day, so we have to somehow manage for two days," adding, "If anyone can supply wings, I will go anywhere to get them."

Chicken franchise companies have taken measures such as discounting menus that do not use chicken parts, but orders still focus on legs and wings. A representative from the chicken franchise industry explained, "We are making every effort to increase the supply of chicken parts, but due to structural problems, there is no immediate solution the industry can take," adding, "It does not seem easy for the current situation to improve in the near future."