A wave of chicken meat shortages has emerged in several Russian regions, impacting supermarket chains such as Pyaterochka, Perekrestok, and Chizhik. The gaps in supply are tied to delays in deliveries, according to reports from RBC. The affected locales include Samara, Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, and other cities where stores faced challenges stocking fresh poultry in a timely manner.
In the early days of 2024, X5 Group, the parent company behind these chains, confirmed that some regions experienced delays in supplying chilled poultry. Harsh winter conditions, including heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures, were cited as the main culprits behind the disrupted logistics. Company spokespeople stressed that every effort was being made to move missing products to stores as quickly as possible to restore normal stock levels for customers.
Amid these distribution hiccups, Russian agriculture authorities have been addressing price trends that accompany supply fluctuations. Dmitry Patrushev, head of the Ministry of Agriculture, indicated that egg prices could ease after the holiday period as the country works to meet rising demand. He noted that chicken meat prices had already started to ease, while the broader issue remained the need to balance supply with consumer demand. In early January, officials reported that a shipment of eggs from Turkey had arrived, consisting of more than 316 thousand pieces, which was seen as a positive development for stabilizing egg availability.
Meanwhile, experts have cautioned about potential food safety risks in poultry handling. There have been discussions on the importance of proper washing and preparation to prevent contamination, underscoring the need for safe handling practices across the supply chain and in home kitchens. These warnings accompany the ongoing focus on pricing, distribution reliability, and the resilience of food supply networks during periods of severe weather.
Overall, the situation highlights how weather-driven disruptions can ripple through supermarket shelves and affect everyday shopping trips. Retail chains are actively communicating with suppliers to minimize stockouts and to keep customers informed about expected restock times. For shoppers, this means staying attentive to fresh poultry availability and considering seasonal alternatives while the logistics network stabilizes. The intersection of weather, logistics, price dynamics, and public messaging remains central to understanding how regional markets respond to sudden supply challenges, and how authorities and retailers work together to safeguard consistent access to essential foods during peak winter periods. The ongoing dialogue between government agencies, retailers, and producers aims to maintain price signals aligned with real-time supply while ensuring consumer safety and confidence in the food supply chain. [Source: RBC reports; official statements from X5 Group; Ministry of Agriculture updates]