It’s still ChikenJoy in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - While Jollibee Foods Corporation had to temporarily close down 72 outlets in Metro Manila and nearby cities due to “limited menu” caused by the company’s migration to a new system, the food chain’s outlets in Cebu, on the other hand, have maintained normal operations with a complete menu.              

ChickenSad trended online last week as consumers complained on the unavailability of ChickenJoy meals in several Jollibee stores in Metro Manila and nearby cities.

JFC though emphasized the supply chain problem is due to the company's current systems upgrade and not because of supply shortage.

The FREEMAN visited some Cebu branches of Jollibee to check whether there were outlets that have been affected. Store managers revealed their operations have been normal and their menu has been intact since the #ChickenSad issue broke out.

Last August 8, the company issued a statement that said “as a result of a limited availability of its products,” it had to “temporarily close down” 72 of its total 2,244 stores nationwide.

Although the company stressed that the problem stemmed from their new system that  affected the dispatch of its products from the commissaries and warehouses to the stores, the Department of Agriculture on the other hand said there really is supply shortage of chicken in Southern Luzon brought about by typhoon Glenda.

In a report from the wires, Agriculture Undersecretary Jose Reaño said that San Miguel Corporation, which is one of the suppliers of JFC, is one of the affected poultry growers. SMC currently controls 55 percent of the chicken market.

To address the chicken supply problem in some of its outlets, JFC has asked the government for a possible importation of chicken products under the Minimum Access Volume. JFC executives were supposed to meet with Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala earlier this week but the meeting was canceled.

MAV is the volume of agricultural produce allowed to enter the country at reduced tariffs. For chicken products, the in-quota duty is at 40 percent, while out-quota shipments pay higher rates of 70 percent.

If given the approval, this will be the first for JFC to source its chicken outside the Philippines after shifting to local producers over three years ago, said Reaño.

To date, Kentucky [KFC Corp.] is the only institutional importer of chicken under MAV.—  Carlo S. Lorenciana (with reports from the wires)