Is KFC open today? Find a branch near you after they responded to chicken crisis with ‘fck’ apology advert
The fast-food chain experienced a chicken shortage, with many stores currently operating under a limited menu
HUNDREDS of KFC branches across the UK were closed after delivery problems caused it to run out of chicken.
But is your local branch open? And when will normality resume for fried chicken fans?
Is your local KFC open?
It is believed the crisis began on Wednesday — the day DHL took over delivery duties — triggered by an accident that shut the M6 and caused traffic gridlock.
An insider said: “Some DHL lorries were sat in traffic for hours and it kick-started a huge backlog of deliveries."
The fast-food chain had 700 branches closed at one point. Now stores are slowly beginning to return, with nearly 80% of the UK branches opening their doors once again - but some are running limited menus.
It's worth checking the to see if your nearest store is back up and running.
Why did KFC experience a chicken shortage?
The major cluck-up was down to a problem with its delivery firm - DHL.
Last week, KFC switched over from its old delivery firm - Bidvest - to a new contract with DHL.
Its estimated that the meltdown could have cost the chain more than £1million a day.
In a cruel twist of fate, it emerged that KFC also ran out of gravy.
MORE ON KFC'S CHICKEN CRISIS
Were staff being paid in closed KFC stores?
AROUND 80 per cent of KFC stores are franchises, which means that many of their 25,000 staff are on zero hour contracts.
Some workers said they had been left with no income while stores stayed closed. Others claimed they had been told “take a holiday”.
One North London worker said: “KFC said full-time staff will be paid and those on short-term contracts will have their pay averaged out.
“But most people who work at franchises like mine are on zero-hours contracts — we don’t have proper jobs.
“We haven’t had any work since the delivery issue first came to light at the end of last week and it’s tough because we have bills to pay.
“Most KFC staff will be in a similar boat.”
A single mum at an Uxbridge store said: “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.”
KFC staff who work in equity-owned stores were re-deployed where possible. Team members were encouraged to take holiday.
Non-salaried team members on short-term contracts were paid the average hours worked per day over the last 12 weeks.
Salaried employees were paid as normal.
Do you work for KFC? Email [email protected]
What was KFC's apology advert?
KFC won back fast food fans with a plucky advert which appeared in the Sun newspaper on February 23, 2018.
The takeaway giant took out a full-page ad showing an empty bargain bucket with the usual "KFC" logo replaced by "FCK".
The ploy seems to have worked - as people flocked to social media to praise the under-fire firm.
Ashley Halliday wrote on Twitter: "Apology totally accepted @KFCUKI - Saying sorry means a lot in life."
Twitter user Miss Chibs said: "Possibly the best apology ad ever #lovingit #kfc."
Peter Storr tweeted: "Not a fan of KFC generally, but got to love their apology."
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