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With Super Bowl weekend fast approaching on February 3rd, there have been rumors clucking around of a potential chicken wing shortage this Super Bowl Sunday. With wings being a staple at most Super Bowl parties and restaurant dining experiences during the game, many fans have begun to seek truth in this fowl rumor.
According to the National Chicken Council’s 2013 Wing Report, more than 1.23 billion wings will be consumed during this 2013 Super Bowl weekend. To put this statistic into perspective – if 1.23 billion wing segments were laid end to end, they would stretch from Candlestick Park in San Francisco to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore 27 times.
The price of wings will be the most expensive ever during this Super Bowl, as demand has risen and the supply has shrunk; folks in the Northeast could see wings priced as high as $2.11/lb (wings are already currently the highest priced part of the chicken).
Bill Roenigk, chief economist and market analyst at the Washington, D.C.-based National Chicken Council, explains that, despite a raised demand and smaller supply, no one should worry about a shortage of wings on Super Bowl Sunday (or any time soon). “The good news for consumers is that restaurants plan well in advance to ensure they have plenty of wings for the big game,” Roenigk says. “And some restaurants are promoting boneless wings and some are offering flexible serving sizes. But if you’re planning to cook your own wings, I wouldn’t advise being in line at the supermarket two hours before kickoff.”
Rumored wing shortage or not, consumers should never be at the supermarket that close to kickoff without such a main staple of Super Bowl snacks – be sure to stock up early, and you’ll be all set to enjoy the big game with your favorite finger food, just as in past years. Consider also stocking up on Ranch dressing; the National Chicken Council’s study of how Americans like their wings shows Ranch dressing as the preferred accessory to any wing selection by 57%!
