Met Police warn panicked fried chicken fans not to call 999 over KFC crisis
As 500 branches remained closed after delivery issues, East London Metropolitan Police Twitter account scolded locals for wasting their time over the shortages
COPPERS have warned chicken lovers to stop phoning them over the KFC crisis.
Nearly 500 branches remained closed this morning after delivery issues stopped chicken arriving at the fast food giant.
And one East London Metropolitan Police Twitter account scolded locals for wasting their time over the shortages.
Tower Hamlets Police tweeted: "Please do not contact us about the #KFCCrisis - it is not a police matter if your favourite eatery is not serving the menu that you desire."
The Met could not confirm how many calls it had received.
But a spokesperson said: "The Met's call centres currently receive more than 14,500 calls every weekday.
"The Met is continuing its drive - including the use of its social media channels - to reduce improper use of the 999 and 101 numbers."
It comes as a source close to the action - or lack of it - told the Sun Online that suppliers are being told to prepare for disruption for up to a month.
The fast-food chain was forced to close around 700 of its 870 UK stores after a catastrophic failure at KFC's new delivery firm DHL left them without chicken.
"We've been asked to prepare to run shop drops and we're hearing that it could be for up to a month," the source said.
"KFC are short of everything, not just chicken. It's the chips, the sides, the lot.
"We saw problems coming when they dropped Bidvest for DHL because that meant they were going from three warehouses to one.
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Since 2pm today, KFC have said that at least 430 restaurants are now open - leaving 440 still closed - but many of them are offering limited menus or have cut their hours.
A KFC spokesperson said: "We anticipate the number of closures will reduce today and over the coming days as our teams work flat out all hours to clear the backlog.
"Each day more deliveries are being made, however, we expect the disruption to some restaurants to continue over the remainder of the week, meaning some will be closed and others operating with a reduced menu or shortened hours."
DIY KFC
THE KFC crisis has made fried chicken as rare as hen’s teeth.
Here’s how to cook your finger-lickin’ own.
Spice mix recipe
PLACE 2 cups of white flour into a large freezer bag.
ADD: 1/3 tablespoon salt, 1/4 tbs basil, pinch oregano, 1/2tbs celery salt, 1/2tbs black pepper, 1/2tbs mustard powder, 2 tbs paprika, 1/2tbs garlic salt, 1/2tbs ground ginger, 1tbs white pepper.
TO COOK: Poach chicken in milk 20 mins before frying.Drain and let cool 15 mins, pat dry and dunk in freezer bag of flour.
Coat, dip in beaten egg and coat with flour again. Deep fat fry chicken pieces for 1min.
6-piece fam feast
USE drumsticks and thighs for the bucket meal. Serve with oven chips, sides of corn on the cob and baked beans and a drink.
TASTE: 4.
KFC COST: £12.99.
OUR COST: (inc 4 chips and 3 500ml Diet Coke): £10.85.
Zinger burger
SQUEEZE mayonnaise on to a plain burger base, then add lettuce. Stack a spicy chicken breast, add sq of cheese and a hash brown. Top with a spoon of salsa.
TASTE: 5.
KFC COST: £5.09.
OUR COST: £2.54.
BBQ wrap
ARRANGE lettuce, then sliced fried chicken on a plain tortilla. Lay 3 cheese squares over the top. Add squeeze of barbecue sauce and mayo if you fancy. Roll it up.
TASTE: 4.
KFC COST: £3.79.
OUR COST: £2.74.
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