Several big names in the food industry have been in shambles due to the ongoing boycott in support of Palestine. While the boycott is mainly on coffee house Starbucks and fast food chain McDonald’s, could KFC be another target?
Recently, local news outlet China Press reported a wave of closure amongst KFC outlets in Malacca. According to the report, three outlets out of the listed 22 had recently closed their stores – either permanently or temporarily. This led to the speculation that KFC is slowly closing their outlets because of the ongoing boycott.
However, China Press clarified that out of the three closed branches, only the outlet in Bemban may have been closed due to the boycott. It is said that there is a sign posted on the store’s door that announces its temporary closure. While the sign doesn’t explicitly name the reason for the closure, several netizens noted that the outlet saw fewer customers recently, bringing up the possibility of the boycott being the answer.
As for the other two outlets, it seems that the closures are due to issues unrelated to the boycott. The branch in Aeon Mall in Ayer Keroh was previously assumed to have closed down due to the boycott. However, China Press clarified that the restaurant had ceased operations due to KFC not renewing its lease with the mall.
Another KFC branch that has recently seen a temporary closure is the outlet at Datawan Pahlawan. However, a reporter had investigated the matter, interviewing a staff member from a nearby store. The staff said that the store was closed due to a technical issue but denied that the boycott was the reason for the closure. A quick Google search also shows that the branch is operating as usual today.
Nevertheless, China Press reported that most KFC branches in the state have seen fewer customers in recent months, even during peak hours. McDonald’s stores in Malacca also had to readjust its business hours to cope with the loss of customers, shedding light on the boycott in Malacca.
Source: China Press
