Zaycon Foods sent a disturbing email

As we have all been noticing, food prices (and meat especially) are going through the roof.   I am grateful that I was able to get the beef at such a good price, and in turn lock in one 40 pound case of boneless/skinless breasts at $1.49 a pound (regularly at the time 1.89)  Now that price has gone up considerably a pound according to the email I am about to share with you.

If you have been on the fence about ordering meat from their truckload sales, I would highly suggest doing so now, before prices go up any higher.  I am copying my recent Facebook post which does include my referral link (I would get a $1.00 credit towards future meat purchases for every person who orders through this link.

HI All. I have mentioned that I had purchased meat previously from Zaycon Foods. We just got a notice that due to the increased meat prices around our country that more of their deliveries and prices are being affected. If you want to get on their chicken deal (fresh boneless/skinless chicken breasts) that is coming into CT in November, at $2.49 a pound per 40 pound case (the price has increased due to demand and prices rising) please consider ordering through my referral link before the price increases again!https://www.zayconfoods.com/refer/zf289327

Below is the letter that I received from Zaycon today:

This is not the usual email from Zaycon Foods – this is what it looks like when a company is honest with its customers. Please take a minute to read this message; it affects all of us. We are seeing truly unprecedented circumstances in the protein commodity markets this fall; in fact, they are turned upside down. You can see it on the news, in stories online and in print, or simply by checking meat prices at your local grocery store: the extremely short supplies in the beef and pork markets have now pushed into the chicken market, and demand for chicken is up more than 17% nationwide. This squeeze on the market has not merely reduced supply, it has completely changed production forecasts, impacting the production ability of suppliers of beef, pork, and chicken products. These unforeseen circumstances have caused a marked shift in the availability of products this fall. Zaycon is committed to getting you quality foods at the lowest prices possible. There’s no trick to how we keep pricing so low: we give you the best prices the going market rates allow. And we always try to secure as much inventory as our customers want. As our events near the point of selling out, usually we just order more truckloads from our suppliers. This fall, the inventory is simply not there. Given the reality of current supply circumstances, we simply must raise the price of our chicken to $2.49 per pound. This is, in all honesty, the smallest increase we can possibly make without actually losing money on this sale. And there’s more: given the strained supply of chicken available right now, we must move the deliveries scheduled to start in early October to the end of the month. To be very clear, all past sales will be honored at the price you paid: if you have already ordered your cases of chicken, your event’s date is moving, but your price will not. The new pricing only affects future orders. Please know that we are working hard to minimize the impact this change will have on you: your deliveries will occur at the same locations and on the same days of the week, but with the dates moved approximately three weeks later. We will send details about these adjustments soon; please stay tuned to your email, texts, and our Facebook page for updates. Also, for the record: once we can lower pricing again, we’ll do it. You have our heartfelt thanks for the understanding and loyalty our customers never fail to show us.

A truly honest, yet nerve wracking email.    I have been worrying about the rising costs.  I'm self employed, need to worry about my independent contractors making enough too.   I actually TEACH more than the four other educators combined by 20 hours, so that I can afford a part time office manager so that I CAN teach this much.  I am currently doing over 65 hours a week between teaching and administrative, never mind practice time and performing.

Is this a sign of what is to come?  Food shortages?  Am I being a bit over dramatic?