Kenyans Force KFC to Surrender as Shortage of Imported Potatoes Turns Ugly

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A decision by Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) to announce to its Kenyan customers that it had run out of French Fries, popularly known as chips, has come to haunt the fast-food chain.

In a statement on Monday, December 3, the multinational company explained that the shortage was occasioned by delays by its foreign potato suppliers.

“It has to with delays in shipping lines due to the Covid-19 situation. Ships have been delayed for more than a month now, but we are working to restore as the first containers are arriving in the port on December 4,” the firm’s Chief Executive Officer Jacques Theunissen said.

The firm explained that Kenyans made crazy orders during the festive season and that’s why the stock dried up.

Until yesterday, not many Kenyans knew that KFC imports its potatoes from Egypt.

There has been an uproar on social media platforms, with netizens criticizing the firm for sourcing its potatoes outside the country yet local farmers are struggling to sell their produce.

Hundreds of Kenyans vowed to boycott KFC restaurants littered across the country for snubbing Kenyan potato farmers.

Some KFC competitors milked the opportunity to implore Kenyans to turn to their French Fries.

“There are some things we can run out of stock but definitely, not fries. We have plenty of cries for everyone,” Burger King, another fast-food chain said.

Chicken Inn Ke capitalized on the criticism directed at KFC to market itself.

“Because you love our chips too much, we make sure they are always there. Our potatoes are locally sourced to make fresh fries, every time.”

Due to mounting pressure, Theunissen now says KFC will start buying potatoes from local farmers, but insisted that they must be of high standards.

“Although we currently import our French Fries, there is an opportunity to source our potatoes from a local supplier that meets the global KFC quality and safety specifications in the near future,” he told the Standard.

The post Kenyans Force KFC to Surrender as Shortage of Imported Potatoes Turns Ugly appeared first on LitKenya.

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