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!”



Tangled Humpback Whale Sparks Rescue Mission off Australia

This handout frame grab taken from video footage provided by whale rescue group Organization for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) on June 9, 2025 shows a distressed humpback whale tangled in a rope swimming south of Sydney Harbor. (Handout and Clay Sweetman / ORRCA / AFP)
This handout frame grab taken from video footage provided by whale rescue group Organization for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) on June 9, 2025 shows a distressed humpback whale tangled in a rope swimming south of Sydney Harbor. (Handout and Clay Sweetman / ORRCA / AFP)
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Tangled Humpback Whale Sparks Rescue Mission off Australia

This handout frame grab taken from video footage provided by whale rescue group Organization for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) on June 9, 2025 shows a distressed humpback whale tangled in a rope swimming south of Sydney Harbor. (Handout and Clay Sweetman / ORRCA / AFP)
This handout frame grab taken from video footage provided by whale rescue group Organization for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) on June 9, 2025 shows a distressed humpback whale tangled in a rope swimming south of Sydney Harbor. (Handout and Clay Sweetman / ORRCA / AFP)

Wildlife rescue teams scoured Australia's east coast on Monday to find and free a distressed humpback whale tangled in a rope.

Aerial footage showed the whale swimming south of Sydney Harbor trailing a rope attached to a floating buoy.

"It makes it more difficult for the whale to dive," said Pip Jacobs from whale rescue group ORRCA.

"It's tiring for the whale, which is already in a state of distress being tangled."

The whale was about eight meters (25 feet) long, Jacobs said, indicating it was still "quite young".

The rope appeared to be tangled around the whale's left pectoral fin, she said.

"The way it is moving is quite erratic," Jacobs told AFP.

"It's moving south which is unusual.

"They should be heading north as part of their migration."

Teams of volunteers and wildlife rescue experts were searching the coastline to pinpoint the whale's location, she said.

But efforts had been hindered by choppy waters and blustery winds.

"If conditions allow and we have eyes on the whale, the best-case scenario is we have a successful disentanglement.

"If they are dragging gear, it hinders their ability to swim freely. The worst-case scenario is the whale can't feed or swim."