In a discussion with Lisa Bishop-Spencer, Director of Brand and Communications for Chicken Farmers of Canada, she depicted how the pandemic had affected an otherwise successful industry in the country. Even if retail for chicken products in grocery stores had seen an uptick in sales as of late, restaurant closures across Canada proved to be damaging to the domestic poultry industry.
“There’s been an increase of our product in retail, but not enough to make up the gap,” Bishop-Spencer clarified, as she discussed the definite link between the slowdown of Canada’s restaurant commerce with the introduction of social distancing laws; in turn, inducing a decrease in production for the nation’s poultry farmers.
The reduction in supply and demand for the nation’s poultry farmers had precise bonds to the slowdown of Canada’s food service industry, influencing a 40 per cent cutback in both production and sales. “The importance of the value chain can’t be underestimated,” Bishop-Spencer enlightened in conversation.
The Canada Takeout Day program encouraged Canadians to support Canadian restaurants and farmers by eating out every Wednesday. Canada Takeout Day is championed by many organizations representing producers, including Chicken Farmers of Canada, who’ve observed a dramatic weakening in profits since the pandemic.
“The importance of the value chain can’t be underestimated,” Bishop-Spencer said. “The program struck a chord with us at Chicken Farm Canada. We learned about the program and it seemed like a natural fit.”
Bishop-Spencer also touched on possible changes within the industry – these modifications could remain long after the pandemic has eased and restrictions are lifted. “There'll be an increase in different types of chicken along with different cuts – that’s going to stick around,” she maintained.
But overall, Bishop-Spencer is unsure of what the ‘new normal’ will appear like after the threat of the coronavirus has vanished. She discussed the possibility of social distancing-related guidelines remaining at chicken processing plants for years to come as one possibility, when Bishop-Spencer illustrated some of the pandemic’s residual effects.
“There’s going to be a real adjustment in the months and years ahead,” Bishop-Spencer said in conclusion.
