Don’t Be Chicken – How to Win the Chicken Wing Shortage

3 Min Read By Andy Rosenbloom

This edition of MRM's "Ask the Expert” features advice from Buyers Edge Platform. Please send questions to Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine Executive Editor Barbara Castiglia at bcastiglia@modernrestaurantmanagement.com.Q: What are some go-to solutions for the chicken wing shortage?

A: It’s been a year since the pandemic started and the world witnessed a shortage in toilet paper, hand sanitizers and grocery store staples. Aisles were empty of paper products and at the same time, the shutdown of meatpacking plants caused a reduction in meat production – including boneless chicken. The foodservice industry is still seeing a shortage in our favorite poultry with chicken wings seeing a huge increase in demand as restaurants continue with an excess of carryout and delivery. 

Chicken wings have become so popular, in fact, that according to The National Chicken Council, retail and supermarket sales shot up by 10.3 percent to almost $3 billion during the pandemic…