A Super Bowl Without Hot Wings? The Nationwide Shortage

Is the United States in a chicken wing crisis? It seems like the recent bankruptcy case of the Pilgrim's Pride Corporation and the economy has put a hurtin' on the chicken wing availability. What does this mean for the Super Bowl?

The Super Bowl is just around the corner which means a lot of parties and a lot of party foods. However, it looks like the cheese and cracker tray may replace good 'ol hot wings this year as the demand for the tasty poultry bits is higher than ever but the supply? Well, that's another story. As a major supplier of buffalo wings, a poultry farm in Texas recently filed bankruptcy causing a shortage in supply. Now, as the chicken wing capital of the United States, Buffalo, New York, one would assume that they would have a niche on the supply side of things, right? Wrong. New York perfects the tiny wings that Texas supplies. Now that perfection is going to cost consumers a whole lot more and according to WIVB News, that cost is so frustrating that restaurants and consumers have had enough and are calling for a Chicken Wing Boycott on January, 26th.

"Pass it on to everybody that if nobody could serve chicken wings for that day."

People are paying double the price for chicken wings in some locations, where one man said that "40 pounds would be like $85 [and] we used to pay $40." The supply is down and the demand is up, resulting in higher prices. However, in today's economy, people cannot afford the higher costs for something like a chicken wing and simply will not spend the money. This could mean a loss for many small businesses who target their dealings to a certain group: wing lovers. And when many are buying their basket of wings at a per wing price? Well, an increase of pennies per wing makes a huge difference. So what does this mean for the Super Bowl parties going on around the nation? Those spicy little guys that so many love might not be on the menu this year. Cost Example: Wingstop in Texas sells their wings individually for just over .50 per wing.