KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 – The shortage of french fries from the US is spreading, with the Malaysian franchise of McDonald’s also having to cut back on the potato side dish. When it launched the “Prosperity burger” yesterday, as it does annually ahead of the Chinese New Year festivities, McDonald’s Malaysia also put up notices at its outlets advising customers curly fries won’t be served as part of the set meal.
The notice to customers advised that the change to regular french fries is due to the franchise being unable to get deliveries of curly fries from the US. The US spud shortage had been worsening across Asia since late last year, with McDonald’s in Japan now offering only small servings of french fries at its outlets there.
KFC Japan has also stopped selling fries. “Due to the prolonged dockworkers’ disputes on the US West Coast, it has become difficult to secure stable supplies of potatoes,” the firm said in a statement yesterday. “The company will halt the sales of potatoes temporarily until a stable supply becomes available.”
Dockworkers in the US are reportedly on a go-slow and have not been providing full crews for months in a bid to gain bargaining leverage in labour negotiations with employers. When contacted, a McDonald’s Malaysia representative confirmed the franchise here is facing difficulties obtaining curly fries from the US.
He confirmed the McDonald’s franchise here still has ample supplies of regular fries, and does not expect the Japan rationing to be implemented here yet. “Japan was affected first because the volume of french fries consumed there is very high. It is not yet a problem here in Malaysia and we will advise our customers if the situation changes.” He also said McDonald’s is looking around for alternate sources of the spud side dish, should the US port problem be prolonged.
Further, KFC Malaysia senior vice president Ling Mee Jiuan said in a statement: “The shortage of imported potatoes caused by labour disputes at a port on the US West Coast indeed impacts the timeliness of supplies to Asian markets. “Though not affected yet, KFC Malaysia will continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate action, if any, as the situation progresses.”
