Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Small Business Association (SBA), Dr Lynette Holder, says the ongoing chicken shortage is taking a toll on caterers and small food businesses.
Described the situation as “extremely challenging”, she said many SBA members were struggling to secure consistent supplies of chicken, an essential component in their cuisine.
Holder said the SBA reached out to its major catering members, many of whom also run small restaurants, as well as to smaller cook shops and kiosks. The feedback, she revealed, was “mixed”, but the underlying message was that sourcing chicken has become a significant hurdle.
She said smaller cook shops have resorted to relying on small-scale or “backyard” farmers, who typically raise 100 to 200 chickens per cycle. This strategy has allowed some businesses to maintain a limited supply.
“Thank God that we have the small farmers doing 100, 150 chicks every six weeks to help support those small businesses and residents,” Holder told the DAILY NATION.
However, she lamented that larger businesses, which depend on bigger poultry suppliers, were feeling the pinch, struggling to meet customer demand and even adjusting their menus to reduce chicken options.
Menu options
This step, she explained, was necessary as the larger suppliers, including established wholesale sources, have been unable to provide steady supplies.
“They are trying to re-jig their menu options because they can’t depend on a reliable supply of chicken.”
Expressing her frustration, Holder pointed to conflicting reports in the media regarding the availability of chicken.
“What is being reported in some cases and what’s happening on the ground don’t match up,” she said, pointing to empty supermarket shelves as clear evidence of a supply problem.
Holder recounted a similar situation in the past when distributors were accused of selling products on a preferred basis to meet undisclosed agendas.
However, speaking on Starcom Network’s
call-in-programme Down To Brass Tacks yesterday, CEO of the Barbados Agricultural Society James Paul said a key factor contributing to the scarcity was the disruption in traditional information channels within the industry.
“We collect data from hatcheries, processors and producers to get a better sense of what is happening,” he said.
Challenges
Despite recent efforts by a local hatchery to place an additional 300 000 birds, various unforeseen challenges have persisted. He also pointed to the fishing industry’s supply chain uncertainties as another contributing factor.
Paul said the market’s dynamics were far from perfect, and discrepancies between buyers’ expectations and suppliers’ realities frequently complicated matters.
“Producers can’t respond within a week to increases in demand for a product like poultry – it just can’t happen,” he said.
Holder cited the current shortage of eggs as a parallel issue, revealing that some bakers have resorted to importing eggs due to inadequate local supplies.
She cautioned that importing food products should only be considered as a temporary measure, given the potential risks to local industries.
“Where a justification can be made for the importation, or even if it’s for a finite period, then we can understand and accept that,” she said.
The SBA head expressed particular concern for micro-businesses which typically offer chicken-based dishes such as wings and chips. She said many of these vendors were now forced to pause their weekend activities due to an inability to secure chicken.
“These are people who might have a job from Monday to Friday, but they supplement their income with that weekend activity. They’re telling me that right now they have to stall that.” (CLM)
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