LOEBS: Beak Capitalism, Part 1: Chickflation

Odd Lots

Bloomberg

News, Investing, Business, News Commentary, Business News

4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 14 April 2025

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Everybody loves chicken. And, it turns out, that this humble bird can tell us quite a lot about the way the world works. In this three-part series, the Odd Lots team is exploring some of the thorniest issues facing the US economy, through the medium of chicken. In this first episode, we’re looking at chicken from the consumer side. Why do we love it so much? What goes into the price of something like a hot wing or an egg? And what can chicken tell us about the way we think of inflation? We speak with prominent economists, analysts, CEOs, and even a chicken sandwich war correspondent, to discuss. It’s time for Squawk Lots!

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Bloomberg Audio Studios.
0:05.3	Podcasts, Radio News.
0:09.5	The chicken sandwich war on Twitter has people clucking all over the country.
0:13.9	It's chicken chaos in Milwaukee.
0:16.4	Long lines outside Popeye's.
0:18.1	If you didn't jump on that Popeye's chicken sandwich craze, you're too late.
0:21.5	Popeyes is officially sold out.
0:24.5	Beatings, stabbings, and even car crashes, people behaving very badly in Los Angeles.
0:29.7	And across the country for that fact, trying to get their hands on Popeye's chicken sandwich.
0:35.2	On August 12th, 2019, Popeye's released their famous chicken sandwich. It August 12th, 2019, Popeyes released their famous chicken sandwich.
0:41.0	It was a humble fried chicken breast with pickles and mayo on a brioche bun,
0:45.9	priced at a very reasonable $3.99.
0:48.8	Some people called it a masterpiece.
0:50.4	Some others were just thrilled to see a delicious alternative to Chick-fil-A.
0:54.2	To be honest, I can't actually remember whether I had it or not.
0:58.2	I'll just say those are really delicious.
1:01.3	I totally get it.
1:02.2	I get why people love all these sandwiches.
1:04.5	I'm sure you remember what happened after this, Joe.
1:07.6	Dozens of imitators were launched.
1:09.7	I mean, Taco Bell, of all places, even did a version,
1:12.8	a crispy chicken sandwich taco. And Chick-fil-A came out swinging. They claimed that they and not
	...

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