The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

FOLLOWING a 3,000-product loss in July, an Abaco Big Bird poultry operations manager says the company resumed operations last week despite ongoing challenges.

In July, the company’s incoming shipment of 5,200 live broiler chicks was reduced to just 1,339 chicks, as the cargo was left at Miami International Airport in 99 degree heat.

This loss cost the local market some 16,000 to 20,000 pounds of chicken.

Lance Pinder previously told this newspaper the company was expecting to temporarily suspend operations until it found an alternative broiler supplier, which Mr Pinder said will result in some 13 employees “losing at least two weeks’ work” and another ten full and part-time workers being laid-off until the situation is resolved.

“It’s been tough because we went like almost a month without any product to sell,” Mr Pinder told The Tribune yesterday. “We had product available last week for the first time in over a month, but that’s gone, but we have some more packaging to do next week so we are trying to catch ourselves.

“The processing crew would’ve been off the whole six weeks, so they had some work last week, and then some other staff took vacation and different things like that we did..... That kind of thing to make it through,” he added.

The loss of the chicks was the latest challenge for the company, following devastation by Hurricane Dorian and then the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Pinder reiterated that he was unable to receive specifics on what transpired as he had only received third-party information.

He said: “I never found out all the details of exactly what happened because you know it seemed like it was about three or four companies mixed all up. Obviously, everyone blames somebody else when something like that happens, so I never really got to the bottom of it.”

He said the company was able to get “credit” from the hatchery.

According to international reports, Abaco Big Bird’s live chick shipment came from a company called Welp Hatchery.

Although the company is faced with challenges, Mr Pinder revealed that they are seeking various alternatives to “avoid” problems such as this in the future.

“We’re just trying to move ahead,” he told The Tribune yesterday.

“We’re looking at maybe establishing our own breeder flock here in the country so we can avoid a lot of this problem going forward — we’re exploring those options.”

Mr Pinder assured the public that the company is aware of the demand, therefore they are actively seeking various avenues to meet it.