NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Abaco Big Bird is grappling with mounting challenges as excess chicken inventory has forced the poultry producer to slash production and prepare for temporary staff layoffs. Operations manager Lance Pinder confirmed that about 15 workers will face reduced or no hours next month as the farm struggles to sell the additional chicken it produced earlier this year.
“Business is tough and the extra growing capacity we put in place at the beginning of this year is not paying off,” Pinder said. “We are having a very hard time selling the additional chicken we have produced the last few months. We have had to make cuts to our production, and next month most of the staff will be laid off for about four weeks until we can bleed off excessive inventory.”
To counter the slump, Abaco Big Bird is planning to launch its own fried chicken outlet, with Pinder noting that traditional retail customers have become increasingly unreliable. “We are trying to start our own fried chicken outlet to try and alleviate the problem since most of our traditional retail outlets are not reliable customers anymore,” he explained.
Despite strong consumer demand in Nassau and Freeport, Pinder said many retailers refuse to stock the product. “They complain about the price of the chicken, but some we have recently reengaged won’t even try to put a small amount of the product on the shelf to see what happens,” he said. “It is very frustrating since we have people call us almost daily in Nassau and Freeport looking for the product.”
Pinder also pointed to cheap international imports as a major obstacle. “There is always someone who has a 20ft trailer of chicken they are willing to sell off or dump for nothing to move it, and we cannot compete with that. When you compare our product, we are actually on the cheaper end.”
He added: “There has also been some breakdown for importers to show proof of local purchase, if available, to obtain import permits.”
Abaco Big Bird, which has been in operation for three decades, is now in discussions with government officials about possible solutions. “I have been in touch with the Minister and the Department of Agriculture regarding our current situation and excessive inventory, and they are trying to find a solution,” Pinder confirmed.
