LONDON, (Reuters) – British poultry producers claimed Monday that there will be enough turkeys to celebrate Christmas. The industry was focusing on delivering whole birds in order to address a shortage of workers.

Richard Griffiths (CEO of British Poultry Council) stated that customers won’t have as many choices this year, but that everyone will still be able buy a bird.

It will certainly be enough turkeys to go around Christmas. He said that he believes there will be more emphasis on whole birds than simple roasts or crowns.

We have seen an increase in overall volume due to the streamlining of product selections.

With the turkey industry under huge labour shortages as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, and Brexit, BPC predicted that turkey production would fall by 20% in 2018. This could potentially threaten the Christmas Day dinner.

The government allowed 5,500 workers to be hired from abroad, however.

Britons are buying frozen chickens in advance because they fear a shortage during the festive season.

Kantar, a market researcher, stated last week that frozen poultry sales increased 27% year-on-year during the four-week period ending Oct. 31. Britons spent an additional $6.1 million ($8.2million).

($1 = 0.7449 pounds)