Crispy and savory, french fries are always a burger’s best friend. However, for several days, McDonald’s Korea has been unable to serve french fries. This marks the third instance since the pandemic, following similar shortages in 2021 and 2022.
On June 20, McDonald’s Korea announced, “Due to unexpected issues within the supply chain, we are temporarily unable to provide french fries.” Four days later, on June 24, the company said, “We will resume selling french fries in a phased manner starting this week.” The timing of the resumption will vary by region. McDonald’s Korea did not disclose the exact dates.
This is not the first time McDonald’s Korea has suspended french fry sales. In August 2021 and February 2022, the company cited global logistics disruptions during the pandemic as the reason for multi-week suspensions of french fry availability.
Frozen potatoes used by South Korean food service companies are predominantly imported. Domestic production of frozen potatoes for french fries is rare due to profitability and seed variety issues. Major fast-food chains in Korea, including McDonald’s, import frozen fries primarily from the United States. Other major chains like Lotteria and Burger King also experienced supply disruptions during previous shortages.
However, this year’s situation is different. Other fast-food brands are not facing any issues with their french fry supply. McDonald’s in the U.S. and Japan, geographically closer to Korea, continue to sell fries without interruption. Only McDonald’s Korea is experiencing difficulties.
An official from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation said, “During previous shortages, global logistics issues coupled with poor harvests in major U.S. potato-growing regions reduced the overall supply. This year, however, the U.S. has had a bountiful potato harvest, resulting in stable supply conditions.”
McDonald’s Korea attributed the current shortage to quality issues with U.S. frozen potatoes. A spokesperson said, “Some frozen potatoes did not meet our standards, so we proactively decided to halt product distribution.” The specific quality concerns were not disclosed.
Industry insiders suggest that McDonald’s reliance on a single supplier may have contributed to the shortage. McDonald’s Korea partners with U.S.-based Lamb Weston, a major potato processing company that supplies Russet Burbank frozen potatoes from Idaho, the largest potato-producing state in the U.S., to McDonald’s worldwide.
In contrast, other fast-food brands have diversified their supplier base, contracting with partners in regions like Europe and China. After past logistics crises, Lotteria, for example, expanded its supplier network beyond the U.S.
An industry insider said, “With rising sea and air freight costs, it becomes challenging for McDonald’s Korea to secure a stable supply of low-cost items like frozen potatoes. Japan has nearly 3,000 McDonald’s stores, and Korea’s Lotteria has around 1,300, allowing for greater diversification in potato suppliers. McDonald’s Korea has fewer than 400 stores, and global standards imposed by headquarters make it difficult to change suppliers independently.”
