Crawley pressure group nears triumph

A poultry pressure group is succeeding in its ploy to bring more fast-food fried chicken to Crawley.

 Tired of waiting in long queues outside Crawley's tiny and frequently overcrowded KFC, local resident Lee Martin formed an online campaign group.

 "Crawley Needs a KFC Drive Thru" now has more than 700 members.

 The group can now taste glory after KFC bosses got in touch.

 KFC spokesman Paul Stokes said, "We do indeed have a very strong requirement for Crawley. London Road is a target location”

Top US chicken producer files for bankruptcy

America's biggest chicken producer, Pilgrim's Pride, has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Difficulty extending it's credit lines, combined with soaring grain prices has forced the Texan company to negotiate a $450 million financial package from the Bank of Montreal.

The money would be used to pay the wages of its 48,000 staff and continue the daily operation of its 35 chicken-processing plants.

The company has warned investors that it would report a loss of $802 million for the fourth quarter.

KFC sign deal with the NFL

Kentucky Fried Chicken has signed a deal with the National Football League to become the "Official Wing Sponsor" of Super Bowl XLII, which takes place in February in Tampa, Florida.

KFC will be permitted to use the NFL logo and the logos of all 32 NFL teams on chicken wing buckets, drink cups and packaging.

The Louisville-based brand said in a press release that it will also be permitted to use the logos in television advertising and online promotions.

KFC operates in more than 80 countries worldwide.

Chicken factory faces huge fine

A raid at a Preston chicken factory has led to the arrest of 26 suspected illegal workers.

Gafoor Poultry Products, on Fletcher Road could also be facing fines of more that £250,000 after 38 UK Border Agency officers raided the factory.

One suspect has been charged with two counts linked to breaching the ID Card Act while four others were cautioned for other offences and have since been released.

Those arrested originally come from countries included India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Belarus and Jordan.

Bird flu claims human fatality in Indonesia

Indonesian health officials say a 15-year-old girl has died of bird flu.

The victim, from the city of Semarang, 250 miles east of Jakarta, died last week after 10 days of hospitalisation.

Officials believe she became infected after coming into contact with sick poultry. Her house was located close to a chicken slaughterhouse.

Since the virus began devastating poultry stocks across Asia in 2003, Indonesia has recorded 113 human deaths.

This figure accounts for just under half the 245 recorded fatalities worldwide.

Chicken values plummet

The US chicken industry is in its most precarious position for 20 years, according to the CME Daily Livestock Report.

It’s largest producer, Pilgrim’s Pride, is operating in bankruptcy mode while the countries second largest producer, Tyson Foods has warned of significant losses in its fourth quarter.

The price of chicken, the most consumed meat in the US, has fallen drastically. Chicken breast prices are some 18% below year ago levels.

Total production for 2009 is currently expected to be 36.3 billion pounds, 1.1% lower than a year ago.

Nando's lands in the US

Nando's first American restaurant has opened in Washington DC.

The fast-food chain now has 800 restaurants in more than 26 countries.

CEO Kevin Utian said the group was looking at further expansion in Africa and across the world, but was doing so conservatively by opening restaurants one at a time in different countries.

Mr Utian added, "the branch in Washington was a milestone for the brand."

However the group, which employs 7000 people in South Africa alone, was facing the problems of slowing economies, market volatility, food inflation an rising product costs.

Nando's recently celebrated its 21st birthday.