Costco and Publix May Be Facing Rotisserie Chicken Shortages — Eat This Not That

By Ghuman

Introduction

As the demand for rotisserie chicken continues to rise, two of the biggest grocery store chains in the United States, Costco and Publix, may be facing shortages. Rotisserie chicken is a popular and convenient meal option for many people, and the shortage could have a significant impact on the availability of this popular item. In this article, we will discuss the potential shortages and what it could mean for consumers. We will also provide some tips on how to find alternative sources of rotisserie chicken if your local store is out of stock.

Costco and Publix May Be Facing Rotisserie Chicken Shortages — Eat This Not That

It looks like Costco and Publix may be facing a shortage of rotisserie chickens. According to reports, the two popular grocery stores are having difficulty keeping up with the demand for the popular pre-cooked poultry.

The shortage is due to a number of factors, including the rising cost of chicken feed, the increasing demand for organic and free-range chickens, and the fact that many farmers are now raising fewer chickens. This has led to a shortage of chickens available for processing, which has caused the price of rotisserie chickens to rise.

The shortage has been particularly noticeable at Costco, where customers have reported long lines and empty shelves. Publix has also been affected, with some stores running out of the popular item.

If you’re looking for an alternative to rotisserie chicken, there are plenty of options. You can try making your own roasted chicken at home, or you can opt for grilled or baked chicken. You can also try making a stir-fry or a soup with chicken as the main ingredient.

No matter what you choose, it’s important to remember that rotisserie chicken is still a great option for a quick and easy meal. Just make sure to check your local store for availability before you head out to buy one.

The rotisserie chickens available for purchase at Costco, Publix, and other stores are certainly a highly sought-after, money-saving grocery item, considering they can be used in a variety of different ways and in lots of recipes. Rotisserie chickens are so popular, in fact, that Costco sold more in 2021 than ever before: To the tune of a whopping 106 million birds. Southern grocery chain Publix also sells a popular rotisserie chicken that may look plain but is indeed a fan favorite.

However, recent reports from shoppers say they are finding it hard to find rotisserie chicken at the two major grocery chains, suggesting a shortage could be near. Keep reading to find out more, and next, don’t miss these 6 Things You’ll See at Costco This Year.

rows of costco rotisserie chicken
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Costco members on Twitter are saying that they—along with lots of others—have had to wait for the deli workers to ring the bell and put out fresh rotisserie chickens at the warehouse this month.

Publix meat
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Publix locations in Florida and other states are also out of the rotisserie chickens lately, shoppers say.

Publix chicken
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A report from The U.S. Sun says that a lot of the low supply issues at these two grocery stores are due to an outbreak of the bird flu. Public risk is low, but USA Today reports that 300,000 birds are affected by a strain called H5N1, including a flock of broiler chickens at a Tyson Foods farm in Kentucky. Birds in Indiana, Virginia, and Tennessee are also involved.

“Tyson Foods is prepared for situations like this, and we have robust plans in place, which we are now executing,” the company said in a statement to the news outlet. “This includes heightening biosecurity measures at other farms in the region, placing additional restrictions on outside visitors and continuing our practice of testing all flocks for avian influenza before birds leave the farms. Tyson Foods’ chicken products remain safe: the USDA confirms that avian influenza does not pose a food safety risk to consumers in poultry that is properly prepared and cooked.”

It’s not confirmed that the outbreak is tied to the low supply of rotisserie chickens, but Eat This, Not That! has reached out to Costco and Publix for more information.

costco rotisserie chicken packages
David Tonelson/Shutterstock

Although the warehouse chain hasn’t raised the price of its rotisserie chicken since 2009 in addition to other cheap favorites, some members are wondering if the recent inflation uptick will eventually trickle down to the $4.99 price tag in the deli section.

Meat prices have increased in grocery stores across the nation since the pandemic began. Time will tell if the warehouse chain raises the price.

In the meantime, Costco Just Brought Back These Bakery Items and Treats for Spring.