Let’s be frank, chicken frank.
Even with the ongoing China/US trade war, rarely does economic news out of the ol’ US of A rattle Hongkongers.
Well, until now.
Panic has erupted — well at the very least some concern has been expressed online — after reports that the US company which makes some of the city’s favorite chicken franks, aka chicken sausages, aka “Valley Chef” sausages, has gone belly up.
Announced earlier this month, Zacky Farms, a California-based food production company, filed for bankruptcy protection.
The news started causing concern recently when online reports emerged suggesting company’s chicken frank sausages could disappear from supermarket shelves altogether following the bankruptcy filing.
You see, Zacky Farms distribute the sausages via a Hong Kong-based company called Dah Chong Hong Holdings Ltd under the brand Valley Chef.
For years they have been a staple in Hongkongers’ breakfasts, hotpots, barbecues, and afternoon teas.
Check out this commercial from 1987 showing how they can be used to prepare “western-style dishes”, like, sausage on a steak…
According to The Business Journal, the company made the filing after it emerged that it was shutting down its poultry processing plants in Stockton and Fresno, and eliminating 475 jobs.
The bankruptcy petition lists estimated assets as well as debts in the range of US$50 million to US$100 million, which could spell the end for the company, and could also mean that Hongkongers may have to say goodbye to their little processed friends.
According to HK01, netizens left comments on online forum HKGolden expressing their distress.
“No Valley Chef, no life”, said one freaked-out Hongkonger.
“It’s the end of the world!” typed another, before presumably running around in circles in a mindless panic.
Others have been posting photos of the sausages in supermarkets around the city on sale.
A chef surnamed Mak told on.cc: “I’ve been cooking with those sausages for about 20 years, if I have to switch brands, people will notice and say ‘chef, why don’t you have Valley Chef sausages? These taste different’.”
