It has been close to a month now since the supply of chicken started running short. Businesses relying on the meat product have had to pay a cost and families are having to dig deeper as prices have skyrocketed.

While the prices increase, there is no sign of the Price Control Division doing its work.

A few shops around the town area are slowly running out of stock, some have empty fridges, and even big chain stores are not stocking chicken.

Fast-food restaurant DMC (Dad, Mom and Children) imports their meat supplies including chicken from New Zealand.

DMC's fried chicken combo which was $17.50 has been replaced with a chicken wings combo selling for $19.50 which is a small increase in price compared to the price of the chicken wing.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, DMC's Vaitele Manager, Jenny Ah-Mu explained that the high demand for chicken on a daily basis continues to increase and their sales of chicken wings as a substitute for chicken legs and drumsticks were not as high.

"People are always asking for chicken (drumsticks and thigh) and that is our highest purchased meal of the day and now that the chicken is short, our sales have dropped despite that we replaced it," she said.

"Chicken wings are undeniably expensive and we replaced the chicken drumsticks with three full chicken wings and the price should be higher given the price of the chicken wings but it's an alternative option for now while we wait for the chicken supply to be back on track."

According to Ms. Ah-Mu, it has been a week now since their chicken ran short from their main supplier in New Zealand.

Apia Supermarket is currently selling their chicken leg quarter for $10.30 per kilo which is a drastic increase from the $5.90 per kilogram before the shortage and is the normal price.

Some shops such as Sula in Moataa, and KK Mart at Matautu also have chicken but are also selling it at a similar price, more than $10 per kilo.

The disparity in the price of chicken between stores was also felt by consumers such as canteens in schools this past week, with some saying this has affected their sales.

Uaita Fili, who helps his mother with the canteen at Magiagi Primary School explained that they normally make more than enough sales from their chicken curry and rice by using only $15 or $20 for chicken. Now, that's not the case.

"If we get chicken for $20 upwards, we get only three pieces of chicken which is so not enough to cater for a school so we resorted to a different menu which was chop-suey with corned beef and rice but we did not make much sales that day so we're just hopeful for the chicken supply to be back on track soon," he explained.

Meanwhile, other main suppliers or wholesales such as Frankies and Ah Liki are also facing chicken shortages.

The price control order shows that a box of chicken legs (15 kg) should cost SAT$99.30 for wholesale in Upolu and $104.50 for wholesale in Savai'i. 

The retail price for chicken legs is now SAT$8 per kg for shops in Upolu and SAT$8.60 per kg for stores in Savai'i.