Chicken shortage shuts down KFCs

LONDON

Fast-food fans were in a flutter Monday after most of the 900 KFC outlets in the U.K. and Ireland were forced to close because of a shortage of chicken.

The company apologized to customers, blaming “teething problems” with its new delivery partner, DHL.

KFC first apologized for the problems Saturday. In an update Monday, it listed almost 300 stores as open but did not say when the rest might join them.

It said those branches that remained open were operating with a limited menu or shortened hours.