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- Some food outlets in parts of the world have been experiencing a shortage of potatoes leading to fries running out.
- But, South Africa is mainly safe, with McDonald’s and KFC confirming that their outlets have not been impacted.
- McDonald’s has been running low on fries in Japan, while KFC in Kenya is offering alternative sides to replace fries.
- For more stories go to www.BusinessInsider.co.za.
In some parts of the world, a shortage of potatoes is causing a French fries crisis, but South Africa is safe for now.
The South African agricultural sector in 2021 experienced harsh, icy weather, which affected potato harvests and compromised the quality of cultivars used to make slap chips and crisps, Jano Bezuidenhout, Potatoes SA’s manager for information, said.
Slap chips and crisps fall under the potato industry’s processing segment, which uses 19% of South Africa’s total potato harvests. On an annual basis, the sector harvests 2.6 million tons of potatoes on average, and due to biosecurity reasons and prohibitions on the importation of fresh potatoes, the industry is only allowed to import pre-processed potatoes.
Even with these constraints, major fast-food outlets in South Africa have been largely unaffected.
McDonald’s South Africa told Business Insider South Africa this week that it is not affected by the reported shortage of potatoes.
“We have a robust local supply chain and continue to serve our customers their favourite meal and renowned French Fries,” said Daniel Padiachy, the executive for marketing, communications, supply chain, and IT for McDonald’s South Africa.
Bezuidenhout said most processing companies that make chips or fries contract farmers who plant cultivars grown and developed to meet the specific requirements for their processing.
“These cultivars have specific characteristics, for instance, a high percentage of starch. Consumers prefer crisps or slap tjips (chips) that do not turn brown when baked/fried. Brown colouration is caused by high levels of sugars in the flesh of potatoes when processed,” he said.
In Japan, the disruptions caused by global supply chain issues have caused a shortage of potatoes, leading to McDonald’s in that county rationing fries for customers. The fast-food outlet resorted to suspending the sale of bigger pack fries. Last week, US freight forwarder Flexport Inc stepped in to help ease Japan’s potato shortage by flying three planes carrying potatoes to the country.
KFC in Kenya has also run out of potatoes for chips because of the supply constraints. As a result, it is offering customers alternative sides to replace fries.
Fam it was truly a Furaha December. ?? Mlikula sherehe with your KFC faves. Ya’ll loved our chips a little too much, and we’ve run out. Sorry! Our team is working hard to resolve the issue. In the meantime here are some SWAP options for combo meals if you are craving our Kuku. pic.twitter.com/ylvnqxtPD0
— KFC Kenya (@KFCinKenya) January 3, 2022
KFC Africa told Business Insider on Wednesday that the chips shortage it is experiencing in Kenya is localised and is not affecting its outlets in South Africa or any other countries across Africa where it has a presence.
“Global logistics constraints have resulted in supply chain delays, and we are working hard to get our great tasting KFC chips back on our menus in our restaurants across Kenya,” the company said.
The shortage has triggered dissatisfaction among locals who have accused the franchise of not sourcing potatoes locally. Currently, its frozen chips are imported into Kenya.
KFC Africa said it has “been on a journey to identify a local supplier that has the processing, tracking and cold chain management capability to supply KFC chips” which would also align with its product consistency standards.
Over 80% of its ingredients are sourced locally in Kenya, and all its chicken is 100% locally sourced.
Famous Brands, which owns fast-food restaurants such as Steers, Fishaways, and Wimpy, opted out of responding to Business Insider’s questions.
Last month, Strike Sebake, managing director for market agent Tshwane Green, said prices for potato varieties such as Mondial and Sifra, used mainly to make slap chips by corner cafés and Kota makers, have remained high and supply has remained scarce.
These cultivars are preferred in these markets because they consume less oil and don’t turn brown when frying, Sebake said.
