McDonald’s is having a shortage of fries in Japan. The popular fast food chain is having problems due to the shortage of American potatoes. Their only solution so far is rationing off a limited amount of french fries. This has affected more than 3,000 McDonald’s in Japan.
For right now, the chain is only making the small size available to customers, which is angering some people who want a large fry. According to QZ.com , who spoke with an employee at a trading company and an average McDonald’s customer. “I usually buy a Big Mac with medium fries so I’m disappointed. I probably won’t return until fries are back on the menu.”
Additionally, McDonald’s cut their set menu prices. A Big Mac meal usually costs about 669 yen, which is $5.71, and because of the shortage of fries it’s 619 yen — that’s $5.29. Not only is the shortage of fries angering McDonald’s customers but they will lose sales by lowering the prices, which means some McDonald’s in Japan will take a hit.
That said, not everyone is disappointed over the change in the fry size. Customer Kaori Ito is very happy with the fry ration. “I don’t care. I usually get medium fries but a small portion is just right… I’ll still come back.”
McDonald’s plans to ration its French fries in Japan http://t.co/NjFW7V5XeS pic.twitter.com/4aBsXVzYr1
— ABC News (@ABC) December 17, 2014
McDonald’s Japan spokeswoman Kokoro Toyama told Reuters about the situation but did not talk about the impact on the sales. “Unfortunately, without this sales restriction step, we would run the danger of running out of fries at some of our stores around the end of the year or beginning of the new year.”
So how did this happen? Well, the shortage occurred when there was a disruption of labor in the U.S. on the West Coast. Due to labor negotiations with workers on the West Coast, these workers didn’t make the set demand, which made the U.S. exports lower than usual. As some may know, potatoes are partially cooked and then cut before shipment. As we stated, this caused a huge problem for Japan as they consume 300,000 tons of french fries in a single year. One customer was mind boggled that such a thing happened.
McDonald’s in Japan are running out of french fries. This is the first time that it’s occurred to me that fries aren’t some infinite thing.
— Dan Pearce (@GameDesignDan) December 17, 2014
I wasn’t under the impression that they just magically existed. I’d just never thought about McDonalds being able to run out, y’know?
— Dan Pearce (@GameDesignDan) December 17, 2014
[Image via MaraZe / Shutterstock.com ]
