Chicken delivery snag closes most KFC restaurants in Britain

Feb. 19 (UPI) -- The majority of KFC restaurants in Britain remained closed on Monday due to a chicken shortage caused by a new delivery contract, the company said.

The closures began during the weekend and by Monday, two-thirds of KFC locations remained closed. A company statement said, in part, "We've brought a new delivery partner onboard but they've had a couple teething problems." The statement listed 254 locations still open.

Another KFC statement acknowledged that "The chicken crossed the road, just not to our restaurants."

The problem arose after the Louisville-based company switched delivery services from Bidvest Logistics to DHL, which said that "operational issues" caused incomplete or delayed deliveries."

"We are working with KFC and our partners to rectify the situation as a priority and apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused," a DHL spokeswoman said.

DHL announced in November that it was chosen to manage the supply and distribution and packaging of KFC products, with British company Quick Service Logistics.

Signs posted in windows of many KFC locations read, "Sorry, we're closed. We deliver our chickens fresh into our restaurants, but we've had a few hiccups with the delivery today. We wouldn't want to be open without offering our full menu, but we'll be back at the fryers as soon as we can."