For restaurants, takeaways, and catering businesses, peak demand periods like Ramadan, Eid, and the summer BBQ season can make or break performance. With customer traffic surging and menu demand rising, managing fresh chicken inventory efficiently becomes critical to maintaining quality, consistency, and profitability. 

At Magna Foodservice, we support hundreds of businesses in scaling their fresh halal poultry supply during these busy times. Here’s how to prepare your kitchen and operations for high-demand periods while keeping your service smooth and waste to a minimum. 

Understand Your Demand Cycles 

The first step to managing stock effectively is understanding when and why demand spikes. 

🔹 Ramadan & Eid 

During Ramadan, families and communities gather for iftar meals, and demand for halal fresh poultry rises significantly, particularly for fillets, wings, and whole birds used in home-style dishes and restaurant specials. 

In the Eid period, bulk orders increase as caterers and restaurants plan celebrations, buffets, and events. 

🔹 Summer BBQ Season 

From May to August, outdoor dining and catering requests climb. Grill-ready cuts like wings, thighs, and drumsticks see strong demand for quick service menus and event catering. 

By analysing sales data and seasonal patterns, restaurants can accurately forecast which products will move fastest, ensuring a consistent supply without overstocking. 

Order Early and Plan Ahead 

Delays in ordering can cause stock shortages and stress your supply chain. For predictable peaks like Ramadan or summer BBQ months: 

  • Place bulk orders in advance (2-3 weeks before peak). 
  • Communicate volume forecasts to your supplier early at Magna Foodservice. We adjust inventory and logistics based on client forecasts. 
  • Secure reliable delivery slots to avoid disruptions during busy weeks. 

Explore our Fresh Poultry Range available in 10kg cartons and vacuum-sealed packs for extended freshness and easy storage. 

Maximise Storage Efficiency 

Fresh poultry requires strict cold-chain management to maintain food safety and shelf life. 

Storage Tips 

  • Keep fresh chicken at 0-4°C in a dedicated cold room or chiller. 
  • Use FIFO rotation (First In, First Out) to minimise spoilage. 
  • Label and date all deliveries for easy tracking. 
  • Avoid overloading storage units. Airflow ensures even temperature. 

Learn more: Packaging & Handling Fresh Poultry: Best Practices & Innovations 

If freezer capacity is limited, coordinate smaller but more frequent deliveries with your supplier to balance space and freshness. 

Train Staff for Peak Workflow 

Your kitchen and receiving teams play a key role in maintaining product integrity during peak operations. 

Staff Training Essentials 

  • Inspect deliveries for temperature and seal integrity on arrival. 
  • Store products immediately; even short delays affect freshness. 
  • Reinforce cross-contamination prevention between raw and cooked zones. 
  • Encourage accurate inventory logging for real-time tracking. 

Empowering your team with clear storage and handling procedures reduces waste and ensures every kilo of chicken maintains its premium quality. 

Balance Menu Flexibility with Stock Security 

During busy seasons, it’s wise to offer menu versatility that matches available stock. 

  • Use multiple cuts (fillets, thighs, wings) to spread demand evenly. 
  • Feature limited-time specials using high-availability items. 
  • Introduce family platters or sharing menus during Eid and BBQ season, high perceived value, efficient for kitchen prep. 

Read next: Fresh Chicken for Ethnic & Fusion Menus 

Partner with a Reliable Supplier 

Consistency is everything when volumes surge. Magna Foodservice ensures your business stays stocked with premium halal fresh chicken, delivered through a trusted cold-chain system. 

We provide: 

  • Vacuum-sealed packaging to extend shelf life. 
  • Bulk 10kg cartons for efficient prep and reduced waste. 
  • Flexible delivery schedules across the UK. 
  • Certified halal poultry sourced responsibly. 

Our operations team understands the unique needs of peak periods, especially around Ramadan and Eid, when precision timing is crucial. 

Partner with a supplier who plans for you. Explore our Fresh Halal Poultry Range.