Dive Brief:
- Butterball is reportedly experiencing a shortage of Thanksgiving turkeys weighing 16 pounds or larger.
- Supermarket chain Big Y says that its orders, as well as the orders of other retailers nationwide, have been cut by 50%.
- Big Y says that it will make up for the turkey shortfall by offering extra frozen turkeys from Butterball weighing 16 pounds or more, as well as smaller fresh turkeys from Butterball and other brands.
Dive Insight:
A fresh turkey shortfall is the last thing Butterball or retailers want around the Thanksgiving holiday, but Big Y insists it is taking all measures to ensure consumers receive a satisfactory bird. Despite being down thousands of large fresh turkeys from Butterball, which is chalking the shortage up to a production error, retailers should still have plenty of alternatives readily available.