McDonald’s stores are forced to CLOSE after running out of food as customers flock to get their hands on a Big Mac when COVID-19 rules are eased
- NZ eased coronavirus restrictions from level four to level three on Tuesday
- Under level three, fast food stores opened and were met with hungry customers
- Three Rotorua McDonald’s stores had to close early after running out of food
- Stores around the country are expecting enormous delivers to meet demands
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Three McDonald’s stores were forced to close their doors after running out of vital ingredients for their burgers.
Franchisees Rob and Linley Parry, who own the three restaurants in Rotorua, New Zealand, opened on Tuesday after the country eased coronavirus restrictions to level three.
The relaxing of Jacinda Ardern’s tough measures allowed people to travel to work, spend time outdoors and order takeaway food for the first time in nearly five weeks.
The franchisee couple assumed they had enough stock to last five days when they reopened their stores, but were completely sold out within 36 hours.
Cars line up at a McDonald’s drive-thru on April 28 as New Zealand eases strict regulations implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease
People wait to collect takeaway food at a McDonald’s restaurant on April 28 in the wake of New Zealand easing strict regulations implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease
‘We managed to get a top-up yesterday [Wednesday] but that was not even close to being enough,’ Mr Parry told NZ Herald.
All three stores were forced to close early on Thursday after being ‘eaten out of stock’.
A large delivery was due at 8pm to replenish stocks and open drive-thrus at 9pm.
They have also requested another delivery for ingredients expected to arrive on Saturday.
‘Once level three began, everyone in Rotorua wanted a little bit of normality, whether that’s the drive-thru at Macca’s or going to Blue Lake,’ Mr Parry said.
‘People have clearly missed us.’
Customers queue up for the drive-thru at a McDonald’s restaurant on the first day of the easing of restrictions in Wellington on April 28
Other stores in New Zealand are facing similar food shortages as restrictions are lifted.
McDonald’s New Zealand said most stores had run out of lettuce, but orders could still be made without the ingredient.
McDonald’s spokesman Simon Kenny said the popular Big Mac and McChicken were the most affected items without lettuce.
The fast food chain saw more than 300,000 burgers sold in the period of 24 hours after restrictions were eased, Stuff reported.