KFC claims 500 shortage-hit restaurants will offer 98% of menu by next week

Fast food chain KFC claims that 500 of its restaurants still dogged by distribution problems will have 98% of their menus available by next week.

The business is still suffering the fallout from a botched change of food distributor in February this year that resulted in the closure of nearly 700 of the chain's 900 restaurants due to a shortage of key menu items.

The problems started after KFC switched from Bidvest Logistics to DHL and Quick Service Logistics (QSL).

The chain subsequently re-engaged Bidvest to handle deliveries to 350 of its restaurants in the north of the UK.

As of today, KFC claims to have nearly 400 restaurants offering a full menu. That includes all restaurants in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

However, that still leaves 500 restaurants unable to offer a full menu, with customers on social media claiming a lack of various items ranging from chicken burgers and wraps to rice, salad, and hash browns.

A spokesperson for the company said that items that are unavailable can vary from day to day and from restaurant to restaurant but that the most popular items were "generally unaffected" and those restaurants not currently offering a full menu would be able to offer 98% by next week.

The spokesperson said: "Following the distribution challenges DHL experienced, disruption to some of our restaurants has continued, meaning some items have been temporarily unavailable.

"The good news is that from today, over 260 more of our restaurants have been restored to a full menu, putting the total at nearly 400. Our remaining restaurants will have 98% of the menu available by next week."

Paul Whyte at Bidvest Logistics said: "We've been working closely with KFC and the roll-out has been running seamlessly and on plan. Every KFC restaurant that Bidvest Logistics services has been on full menu since Tuesday (24th April)."

The Caterer has contacted DHL for comment.

KFC in partial return to former delivery partner following chicken shortages >>

KFC crisis continues as the chain runs out of gravy >>

Hundreds of KFC branches remain closed amid chicken delivery chaos >>

Get The Caterer every week on your smartphone, tablet, or even in good old-fashioned hard copy (or all three!).