Updated February 20, 2018 16:19:39

Photo: The majority of KFC's 900 outlets in Britain shut due to a chicken shortage. (Supplied: KFC)

KFC has been forced to close hundreds of its British stores because of a shortage of chicken.

The problem arose after the chain switched its delivery contract to DHL, forcing the majority of its 900 outlets in Britain to shut.

KFC first apologised for the problems on Saturday (local time).

In an update this week, it listed almost 300 stores as open, but did not say when the rest might join them.

"We've brought a new delivery partner onboard, but they've had a couple of teething problems — getting fresh chicken out to 900 restaurants across the country is pretty complex," KFC said on its website.

"We won't compromise on quality, so no deliveries has meant some of our restaurants are closed, and others are operating a limited menu, or shortened hours."

DHL blamed the delivery delays on "operational issues".

"We are working with KFC and our partners to rectify the situation as a priority and apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused," a spokeswoman said.

When DHL announced in October that it had won the KFC contract alongside logistics firm QSL, it promised to "rewrite the rule book and set a new benchmark for delivering fresh products to KFC in a sustainable way".

The shortage inspired a Twitter hashtag — #KFCCrisis — and an influx of light-hearted tweets.

Reuters/AP

Topics: food-and-beverage, hospitality, business-economics-and-finance, poultry-and-egg-production, transport, human-interest, united-kingdom

First posted February 20, 2018 13:06:58