Introduction
The fast-food industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, with many chains facing operational issues that have disrupted their business. From supply chain issues to staffing shortages, these issues have caused some of the biggest fast-food chains to make drastic changes to their operations. In this article, we’ll take a look at six fast-food chains that have been disrupted by major operational issues right now. We’ll discuss how these issues have impacted the chains, what changes they’ve made to their operations, and what the future may hold for them. So, if you’re curious about how the pandemic has affected the fast-food industry, read on to find out more.
6 Fast-Food Chains Disrupted By Major Operational Issues Right Now
The fast-food industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, with many chains struggling to keep up with the changing demands of customers. From supply chain issues to staffing shortages, here are six fast-food chains that are currently facing major operational issues.
McDonald’s
McDonald’s has been struggling to keep up with the demand for its products, as customers flock to the chain for its classic menu items. The chain has also been dealing with staffing shortages, as many of its employees have been unable to work due to the pandemic. To make matters worse, McDonald’s has also been dealing with supply chain issues, as the chain has had difficulty sourcing ingredients for its menu items.
Taco Bell
Taco Bell has been dealing with a number of operational issues, including staffing shortages and supply chain issues. The chain has also been struggling to keep up with the demand for its products, as customers have been flocking to the chain for its classic menu items. To make matters worse, Taco Bell has also been dealing with a shortage of ingredients, as the chain has had difficulty sourcing ingredients for its menu items.
Burger King
Burger King has been dealing with a number of operational issues, including staffing shortages and supply chain issues. The chain has also been struggling to keep up with the demand for its products, as customers have been flocking to the chain for its classic menu items. To make matters worse, Burger King has also been dealing with a shortage of ingredients, as the chain has had difficulty sourcing ingredients for its menu items.
Wendy’s
Wendy’s has been dealing with a number of operational issues, including staffing shortages and supply chain issues. The chain has also been struggling to keep up with the demand for its products, as customers have been flocking to the chain for its classic menu items. To make matters worse, Wendy’s has also been dealing with a shortage of ingredients, as the chain has had difficulty sourcing ingredients for its menu items.
KFC
KFC has been dealing with a number of operational issues, including staffing shortages and supply chain issues. The chain has also been struggling to keep up with the demand for its products, as customers have been flocking to the chain for its classic menu items. To make matters worse, KFC has also been dealing with a shortage of ingredients, as the chain has had difficulty sourcing ingredients for its menu items.
Subway
Subway has been dealing with a number of operational issues, including staffing shortages and supply chain issues. The chain has also been struggling to keep up with the demand for its products, as customers have been flocking to the chain for its classic menu items. To make matters worse, Subway has also been dealing with a shortage of ingredients, as the chain has had difficulty sourcing ingredients for its menu items.
It’s clear that the fast-food industry is facing some major operational issues right now. From staffing shortages to supply chain issues, these six fast-food chains are struggling to keep up with the changing demands of customers. If you’re looking for a quick meal, it might be best to stick to the tried-and-true options, as these chains are still dealing with the fallout from the pandemic.
The restaurant industry as a whole is suffering from severe understaffing, but some fast-food chains have fared much worse than others. Big names like McDonald’s and Popeyes have had to alter their hours of operation while some brands are feeling the effects of staffing shortages on their recent earnings.
Add to that an ongoing disruption in the ingredient supply chain, and you’re likely to experience setbacks to your order at the following fast-food chains.
For more, check out 9 Fast-Food Chains That Are Phasing Out Dining Rooms.
If you’ve ordered from Starbucks lately, you’ve likely noticed it isn’t all smooth sailing at America’s largest coffee chain. The company has been struggling with a significant number of ingredient shortages and operational issues, many of which are related to understaffing as well as glitches on its mobile app. According to the latest reports, inaccurate orders, delayed fulfillment times, and even issues with refunds are all hurdles customers have regularly been encountering with the chain’s mobile app.
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Taco Bell has been struggling with ingredient shortages for a good part of the year. During the summer months, the company acknowledged they were experiencing supply chain troubles, and customers took to social media to report their local restaurants were out of everything from chicken and beef to hot sauce and 10-inch tortillas.
Several months later the chain still seems to be unable to fulfill orders as expected, at least at some of its locations. A recent Reddit thread provides anecdotal evidence that Taco Bell still isn’t fully back on track when it comes to its supply chain. The original post shows a sign put up at an unidentified Taco Bell that says the store is out of pretty much everything: nacho cheese, tacos, crunchwraps, cinnabons, quesadillas, and burritos. Other users have chimed in with comments about similar experiences at their local joints.
According to its latest earnings report, Jack In the Box has had to limit hours of operation at its restaurants due to staffing shortages that have been plaguing the chain for months. According to the company’s executives, the understaffing woes have particularly affected the restaurants’ late-night hours, which are now shorter. The issues have not only been a nuisance to customers but have also affected the chain’s bottom line—its company-run locations have seen a 4.4% decline in same-store sales as a result.
Boston Market has been on a downward popularity spiral before the pandemic even hit (its sales were down by 24.1% in 2020, 10% in 2019, and 1.3% in 2018), and although the company announced a comeback under new ownership this year, it now seems to be struggling with debilitating staffing shortages.
Its understaffing problems came to a head at one of its California locations this weekend, when customers attempting to pick up their preordered Thanksgiving meals came upon a shuttered restaurant. “No employees showing up today… we are unable to fulfill the orders! We are sorry!” read the sign posted on the front door, according to TODAY.
McDonald’s is among the chains feeling a major impact of a tight labor market. On a recent third quarter earnings call, CEO Chris Kempczinski said the chain’s operations are affected in several ways as a result: the hours of operation are shorter at its restaurants and the service is taking a bit longer.
“We might be dialing back late night for example from what we would ordinarily be doing,” he said. “It’s also putting some pressure around speed of service, where we are down a little bit on speed of service over the last year-to-date and [what] we did in the last quarter.”
The story is similar over at Popeyes, where you’ll likely find your local restaurant shuttered earlier in the day than usual. Almost half of the chain’s locations are currently operating under “reduced service modes,” which means that their dining rooms and sometimes even drive-thrus are closed for business, and their late-night hours are reduced. Moreover, the chain has had to look into diversifying its distribution network after an understaffed distribution center in the Northeast affected the food supply at some 10% of Popeyes restaurants in the area.
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