Freaking out over a french fry shortage, restaurants in Japan are scrambling to secure french fry orders with suppliers. Taking drastic measures to ease shortage concerns, one restaurant has ordered 200 tons of french fries to be airlifted in to Japan. Yes, you read that right, french fries are being airlifted.
According to the Japan External Trade Organization, the french fry shortage comes as a result from a proposed six-year labor contract between dockworkers and shipping lines in Los Angeles and other ports along the West Coast. After negotiations began in May, strikes have slowed shipments and caused a backlog of orders that have not yet been imported.
Because fast food and "family restaurant" giants rely on the imports, some have begun to take matters into their own hands in order to serve the popular Western side dish. To supply the demand, Skylark Co., owner of the Gusto chain of restaurants, announced on Thursday its plan to airlift the fries to prevent running short.
Kyodo News reported that McDonald's chains in Japan have been having problems regarding their fries since November.
Luckily for Royal Holdings, owner of a few family chains, they have been stocking up. The company said they have enough fries to last a few months, but will monitor it closely.
And if a french fry shortage wasn't enough to make Japanese foodies freak, they are also suffering from a butter shortage. Customers can only buy one pack of butter each, as supermarkets are selling out.
Just in time to still bake holiday treats, the farm ministry announced Thursday that four butter producers will pitch in more to supply the demand.
"Sufficient supply of butter will be ensured at stores before the Christmas season," a ministry official said.
The hot summer, which took its toll on tired cows, is the cause for the butter shortage. As far as the french fries go, at least tons are on the way.
[Photo Credit: Steve Bott/Flickr]
