Delivery Problem Closes KFC Stores across UK

Pedestrians pass outside a closed KFC fast food store in south London on February 19, 2018. (AFP)
Pedestrians pass outside a closed KFC fast food store in south London on February 19, 2018. (AFP)
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Delivery Problem Closes KFC Stores across UK

Pedestrians pass outside a closed KFC fast food store in south London on February 19, 2018. (AFP)
Pedestrians pass outside a closed KFC fast food store in south London on February 19, 2018. (AFP)

KFC has finally revealed the real reason behind its closure of several of its restaurants across the UK. Delivery problems led to the closure of 900 branches across the country after they ran out of chicken and chips, leaving fried chicken lovers fuming.

Fast food restaurants in Devon, Bristol, Berkshire, Suffolk, Newcastle and Cheshire were all impacted.
The US based chain claimed there were “teething problems” with a new delivery company supplying them with chicken. Many customers saw the closure decision as “the end of the world”.

The company, which has been operating since 1930, stated that "the provision of fresh chicken through the 900 restaurants scattered across the country is very complex."

"We will not waive the high quality standard, so we had to close some of our restaurants, while the others are working on a short menu or fewer hours," the company said in a statement.

This triggered rage among Britons with a hungry resident from the city of Bristol declaring it "the end of the world."

He wrote on Twitter: "How do KFC officials think about shutting down their Bristol branch because the chickens are running out?”

In Manchester, people queued up outside some branches, while others had to drive their cars for miles to get to others, where they were surprised by the closure.

In Plymouth, officials at a KFC restaurant were forced to close the door and hungry customers had to return disappointed, according to a Plymouth Herald report. Employees at the Milton Street restaurant in Nottingham hanged a banner to apologize for the closure, the Mirror said.

However, nothing managed to calm the anger of fast food lovers, and Twitter saw a flood of angry comments.

Natalie Paige, for example, wrote: "It would be great if the KFC officials announced that all branches were closed so that people do not drive their cars to different areas."

"Unfortunately, our doors are still closed this morning because of problems with delivery," said one of the restaurant workers. We are not sure when we will reopen our doors. Currently, we have no products, so we are unable to open right now. We regret that. "

"We are distributing fresh chicken to our restaurants, but we have some minor problems with the delivery system at the moment," said a spokesman for KFC. “We deeply apologize for any inconvenience we have caused, and we are working to bring all restaurants back to work as soon as possible!”



Monkey Business Delays Sri Lanka's Wildlife Survey

Officials in Sri Lanka said they were withholding the results of a survey of crop-destroying wildlife because monkey business appeared to have distorted some of the data. Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP
Officials in Sri Lanka said they were withholding the results of a survey of crop-destroying wildlife because monkey business appeared to have distorted some of the data. Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP
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Monkey Business Delays Sri Lanka's Wildlife Survey

Officials in Sri Lanka said they were withholding the results of a survey of crop-destroying wildlife because monkey business appeared to have distorted some of the data. Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP
Officials in Sri Lanka said they were withholding the results of a survey of crop-destroying wildlife because monkey business appeared to have distorted some of the data. Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP

Sri Lanka is withholding the results of a survey of crop-destroying wildlife, including monkeys and peacocks, because data collected from some farmers appeared unrealistic, a minister said on Monday.

Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakodi said authorities had begun a review of the nationwide survey conducted on March 15, the first of its kind, because "some of the data was unbelievable".

Authorities suggested some enraged farmers might have exaggerated the numbers to suggest that the problem was even bigger, AFP reported.

Data in some places appeared "unusually high", officials said.

Residents across the island country were asked to count wild boar, peacocks, monkeys and lorises -- a small, largely nocturnal primate -- spotted near farms and homes during a five-minute period.

"We started the survey to understand the size of the problem," Jayakodi told reporters in Colombo. "But we now have to review the results... there have been issues with some unusual data."

Jayakodi said officials would return to assess data before releasing the final results of the survey, which was aimed at drawing up a national plan to deal with nuisance wildlife.

Opposition legislator Nalin Bandara said the survey was "a complete failure, a waste of money".

Officials say more than a third of crops are destroyed by wild animals, including elephants that are protected by law because they are considered sacred.

While elephants are major raiders of rice farms and fruit plantations, they were not included in the March count.

The then agricultural minister proposed in 2023 exporting some 100,000 toque macaques to Chinese zoos but the monkey business was abandoned following protests from environmentalists.

Sri Lanka removed several species from its protected list in 2023, including all three of its monkey species as well as peacocks and wild boars, allowing farmers to kill them.