Lettuce shortage forces KFC to offer cabbage in Australia.
Lettuce shortage forces KFC to put cabbage in burgers; some Subway stores run out. The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the day's trading. Get it each weekday afternoon.
According to parent company Collins Foods chief executive Drew O'Malley, iceberg lettuce will make a full return to KFC burgers. However, the fast food chain will hike prices for a third time this year in response to soaring produce costs.
A controversy is roiling the fast-food industry in Australia and prompting consumer complaints. It has to do with climate change, supply-chain shortages and inflation — but mostly, with cabbage.
Cabbage is a great all-around vegetable that has many culinary uses. Finely sliced cabbage is a deliciously fresh and crunchy substitute for lettuce. A little bit of Cabbage goes a long way so it is a very economical vegetable.
Australia has some of the highest food standards globally, so the freshness and quality of our produce is a lot better than what you get in the US — meaning that our fast food tastes better. Take it from Sophia, who used to live in LA but now calls Sydney home.
The soil on many farms is oversaturated and can't dry out in cold, wet conditions. It's not just lettuce, either. Some retailers have reported shortages of other leafy greens, including fresh herbs and baby spinach.
In mid-2022, vegetable prices in Australia climbed steeply. In particular, iceberg lettuce prices made the news, with The Guardian reporting a price tag of $11.99 for a single lettuce. It came during a time of increasing worry about inflation and the cost of living.
au's top 5 competitors in March 2023 are: mcdonalds.com.au, hungryjacks.com.au, redrooster.com.au, menulog.com.au, and more. According to Similarweb data of monthly visits, kfc.com.
Most Nutritious Option
For the healthiest dish at KFC, opt for the grilled chicken wings, which deliver 70 calories per wing thanks to the cooking method.
At Macca's, we're as invested in the future of Aussie farming as we are in the present. Meet Brad Egan, this year's Young Farmer of the Year. We love the unique flavour and crisp texture of Iceberg and Cos lettuce. Grown by farmers in NSW, QLD, SA and VIC*.
However, fortunately for our farmers, there's no longer a lettuce shortage in Australia. It has gone back being a regular household item that costs less than $50 at a supermarket.
A lettuce virus caused the lettuce shortage.
We can blame weather woes, labor shortages, transportation costs, and market demand. But the number one reason for this shortage? Lettuce crops here in the U.S. are facing their own pandemic.
Mason Brothers Vegetable Farms is one of the largest producers of quality fennel, lettuce and broccoli in Australia.
Lettuce is grown all over Australia however the main lettuce production regions in Australia are the Lockyer Valley and Eastern Darling Downs (SE Qld); Hay and Central West (NSW); Lindenow and Robinvale (Vic); Manjimup and Gingin (WA); Virginia (SA) and Cambridge, Richmond and Devonport (Tas).
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a popular vegetable that is widely grown and consumed throughout the world. China is the largest producer of lettuce, contributing 55% to the world's total production by weight.
Exporters and Importers
Lettuce are the world's 634th most traded product. In 2021, the top exporters of Lettuce were Spain ($1.04B), United States ($537M), Mexico ($407M), Netherlands ($279M), and Italy ($271M).
Fast food giant KFC has been forced to put cabbage in its burgers and wraps in Australia as the country is struggling with a shortage of lettuce. The firm told customers it is using a mixture of lettuce and cabbage after floods destroyed lettuce crops.
While chicken is an obvious Men's Health staple, KFC's reliance on greasy oils and subsequent sky-high calorific content makes Maccy's an unlikely victor. The more varied menu and healthy options, as well as classic, gut-busting fare, make it the ideal spot to play fast and loose with your nutrition plan.
Cabbage contains about 60% of the average Vitamin C intake, while lettuce only has about 4% of the average Vitamin C intake needed. Cabbage also contains Vitamin B6, where lettuce does not. In terms of vitamins and protein, cabbage is healthier than lettuce, since lettuce does not have much nutritional content.
While they may look strikingly similar to one another, iceberg lettuce and cabbage belong to very different plant families and species. Iceberg lettuce is a particular variety of lettuce belonging to the Asteraceae family, while cabbage belongs to the Brassicaceae family.
Lettuce is grown in most districts of NSW with the bulk of field production centred in the three main growing areas of Sydney Basin, Murrumbidgee and Central West. Lettuce is sown and harvested all year round using both field and hydroponic systems. Production declines through summer due to the warm conditions.