Newcastle institution Henny Penny hit hard by staff shortages, supply chain issues

If Slim Dusty’s pub with no beer was hard to swallow, imagine a chicken shop with no chicken! That’s the sad reality of what happened at one of Newcastle’s most recognised food outlets.

Similar to Slim Dusty’s famous “Pub with no beer”, imagine a “chicken shop with no chicken”.

That’s the sad reality of what happened last week at one of Newcastle’s most recognised and iconic food brands, Henny Penny.

Not that it was their fault. Covid-related delays have made their distribution process a nightmare with many drivers forced off the road due to the pandemic.

“I couldn’t believe it. We had no wings, breasts or legs. No chicken whatsoever,” said Henny Penny area manager Bronwyn Nott.

Henny Penny area manager Bronwyn Nott filling in at the Marketown store because of staff shortages.

“Like most businesses there’s been hiccups throughout coronavirus but we get on with it. People were understanding.”

Henny Penny has been around since 1968 and still has nine outlets throughout Newcastle and the Hunter Region and has the history of being the first major sponsor of the Newcastle Knights when the club entered the NRL competition back in 1988.

The current stores aren’t franchised, meaning owner Anthony Cincotta has more on his plate than a two-piece feed.

“Having staff drop out due to Covid hasn’t been ideal,” Cincotta said.

“The process of deep cleaning stores and then having to throw everything out in stock is the real killer. There’s a lot of losses financially we’re having to deal with. Landlords still want rent paid but when you lose hours, days and altogether weeks of trade, it’s going to hurt.”

The Henny Penny boss has been in the food industry for over 30 years and has seen the good times and bad. One thing that’s disappointed him in recent times is “work ethic” or rather, lack of.

The Newcastle institution has been hit hard during the pandemic.

“The biggest worry has been trying to find people who want to work,” Cincotta said. “I’ve been in this game for a long time and I’ve never seen anything like it. People not turning up to interviews without even the courtesy of a phone call. Maybe being unemployed has too many benefits? In saying this, we have great staff that go the extra mile. Sometimes I wish I could make a few more of them.”

Last Sunday Henny Penny’s Marketown outlet was closed for the day as it simply had no one to open its doors.

It’s been a case of all hands on deck as Nott herself was forced to fill in and serve customers the following day just to keep the store up and running.

“We’re short staffed everywhere. Our managers are tired. It’s tough. We have to compete with the big players like McDonalds, KFC and Red Rooster. I think the government has to help us more. We’re not the only ones hurting,” Nott said.