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Where does Aldi’s get their chicken wings?

Chicken wings are a popular appetizer and snack food item. Many grocery stores and restaurants sell prepared chicken wings, which raises the question – where do companies like Aldi get the raw chicken wings they use to make these products? This article will explore the supply chain behind grocery store chicken wings, looking specifically at where Aldi sources their chicken wings from.

The Chicken Wing Supply Chain

To understand where Aldi’s chicken wings come from, it helps to understand how the broader chicken wing supply chain works. Here are the key steps in the chicken wing supply chain:

  • Chicken farms – Chickens are raised at chicken farms and processing plants across the U.S. The chickens are raised specifically for meat production.
  • Slaughtering and processing – Once chickens reach maturity, they are transported to slaughter and processing facilities. Here the chickens are slaughtered, cleaned, and separated into different cuts of meat.
  • Portioning – Chicken wings are separated from the rest of the chicken and sorted into drumettes, flats, and whole wings.
  • Packaging and distribution – The now prepared chicken wings are packaged, frozen, and distributed to foodservice providers, grocery stores, and other buyers.
  • Preparation – Places like grocery stores and restaurants thaw, season, and cook chicken wings before selling them to consumers as ready-to-eat snacks and appetizers.

As a discount grocery store chain, Aldi fits into the supply chain at the packaging and distribution stage. They purchase frozen, packaged chicken wings to then distribute to their stores for in-house preparation.

Aldi’s Chicken Wing Suppliers

Aldi does not own any chicken farms or processing facilities. Instead, they purchase chicken wings from third party suppliers and distributors. According to reports, some of Aldi’s main chicken suppliers include:

  • Wayne Farms – One of the largest poultry processing companies in the U.S.
  • Pilgrim’s Pride – Major chicken producer and processor.
  • Perdue – Top chicken brand behind products like Perdue chicken nuggets.
  • Tyson Foods – Leading meat processor in the country.

These are multinational corporations that operate chicken facilities across the United States. The specific facilities that supply Aldi’s chicken wings can vary by region and availability.

Food Safety and Animal Welfare

When choosing suppliers, Aldi considers factors like food safety, quality, sustainability, and animal welfare. All of Aldi’s fresh chicken suppliers must undergo regular third-party audits for food safety and quality.

For animal welfare, Aldi has pledged to source all fresh, frozen, and processed chicken from cage-free providers by 2025. Their suppliers will have to meet approved animal welfare standards for how chickens are housed, transported, and processed.

From Farm to Store

Here is an overview of how chicken wings may go from farms to being sold at Aldi:

  1. Chickens are raised at chicken farms until they reach optimal size and age for meat processing.
  2. Chickens are transported to slaughter and processing facilities run by companies like Wayne Farms.
  3. At facilities, chickens are slaughtered in a USDA-regulated process then cleaned, deboned, and separated into parts like whole wings, drumettes, and flats.
  4. The wings are packaged and quick frozen for distribution.
  5. Frozen chicken wings are purchased by distributors and sent to Aldi warehouses regionally.
  6. Aldi stores receive regular shipments of frozen wings from warehouses.
  7. In-store, frozen wings are thawed, seasoned, and cooked in Aldi ovens.
  8. Hot, ready-to-eat chicken wings are sold at the Aldi store hot bar.

By the Numbers: Aldi’s Chicken Wing Sales

Aldi does not publicly share specific sales numbers for its chicken wings. However, some key stats help provide scale on how many chicken wings Aldi sells:

  • Over 2,100 Aldi stores in 36 states
  • Ranked #3 grocery retailer in the US in 2022 by store count
  • Each store sells ~25 rotisserie chickens per day on average
  • Chicken wings priced from $4.99 – $8.99 per pound

Based on these figures, a conservative estimate is that Aldi sells over 50,000 pounds of chicken wings per day across their US stores. That translates to over 18 million pounds, or 9,000 tons, of chicken wings sold by Aldi per year.

Quality Control and Food Safety

As a food retailer, maintaining quality and safety standards for products like chicken wings is a top priority for Aldi. Here are some of the steps Aldi takes with its chicken wing supply and preparation:

  • Routine audits and inspections of suppliers’ facilities and processes
  • Established specifications for raw chicken wing handling, freezing, distribution.
  • Training programs for in-store employees on safe preparation, cooking, and serving procedures
  • Precise protocols for refrigerating chicken wings before and after cooking to avoid spoilage.
  • Detailed sanitation guidelines for equipment and prep areas
  • Regular microbiological testing for pathogens

Adhering to strict quality control guidelines at every step helps ensure the safety of Aldi’s ready-to-eat chicken wings for customers.

The Pros and Cons of Aldi Chicken Wings for Consumers

Here is a quick overview of some of the pros and cons of buying chicken wings from Aldi for consumers:

Pros Cons
Low price point compared to other grocery stores Limited flavor and preparation options in-store
Good for quick, convenient ready-made snack or meal Quality not as consistent as wings from butcher or dedicated wings restaurant
Sold pre-cooked and hot ready-to-eat Hit or miss on crispiness and texture
Wide availability at Aldi locations Packaged wings have shorter shelf life than fresh raw wings

The lower cost and convenience factor of Aldi wings makes them popular. But chicken wing aficionados may be disappointed by the uniformity and lack of specialty flavors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fresh are the chicken wings?

Aldi’s chicken wings are delivered frozen to stores and thawed before cooking and serving. So they are not fresh, raw chicken wings. However, the frozen wings likely entered the cold chain within days of initial processing, preserving more freshness vs. wings frozen weeks or months later.

Are the chicken wings high quality?

As a discount grocer, Aldi focuses more on affordable prices than premium quality. The wings are decent quality, but likely lower grade than higher-end restaurants or butchers. The uniform sizing and basic seasoning also points to commercial, mass-produced wings rather than gourmet.

Are Aldi chicken wings organic or free-range?

Aldi’s regular chicken wings are sourced conventionally from industrial chicken facilities. However, Aldi does carry some specialty lines of chicken certified organic, free-range, or raised without antibiotics. But the organic/premium wings cost more than the standard wing options.

Does Aldi make their own chicken wings in-store?

No, Aldi receives frozen pre-portioned chicken wings from suppliers and simply thaws, seasons, and cooks them in stores. They do not butcher or fabricate raw chicken into wings themselves in their locations.

How long do cooked chicken wings last at Aldi?

Aldi aims to turnover cooked chicken wings quickly to maximize freshness. Like any prepared hot food, the wings have a limited shelf life. Properly stored in refrigeration, they should retain quality for 3-5 days after in-store preparation before discarding.

Conclusion

Aldi procures its chicken wings through large poultry suppliers like Wayne Farms and Pilgrim’s Pride. The wings take a journey from chicken farms through processing facilities before being distributed frozen to Aldi. In-store, cooks finish preparing the wings to create convenient, ready-to-eat hot snacks and appetizers. While not the highest grade, Aldi’s wings provide an affordable, quick protein option for shoppers despite some variability in texture and taste. Strict safety protocols during both supply and in-store preparation protect consumers as well.