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Plenty Of Wings To Go Around

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By RUSSELL RAY

rray@tampatrib.com

Published: January 30, 2009

TAMPA - Internet reports of a shortage of chicken wings, the most savory of Super Bowl snacks, have been greatly exaggerated, restaurateurs and poultry officials say.

No one will be running out of chicken wings, said Richard Lobb, spokesman for the National Chicken Council.

"Football fans in Tampa and across the country will have plenty of chicken wings this weekend," he said.

The recent bankruptcy of Texas-based Pilgrim's Pride Corp., which accounts for a quarter of the U.S. chicken market, spawned reports of a shortage because Pilgrim was shutting down plants.

Those reports, however, were false, Lobb said. Pilgrim's is in Chapter 11 reorganization but is operating and its plants are running.

Production, though, is down about 5 percent as poultry producers scale back in response to the poor economy.

Bill Moore of Clearwater-based Hooters Management Corp. said, "We're confident that we're going to be ready to go on Sunday."

Russell Ray

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