Every now and then I like to treat myself to a buffalo burger at a local Southeast Texas-Southwest Louisiana chain called Novrozsky’s. This is, I understand, not to be confused with the Houston Roznovsky’s hamburger chain. Well, maybe you wouldn’t get them mixed up. Mr. or Ms. Know It All!
To my dismay, Novrozsky’s was out of buffalo for their buffalo burger. I went ahead and bought a regular cheeseburger while telling the girl taking the order that the reason I came was for their buffalo burger. She mentioned that to the manager and the manager began telling me an interesting story about why they were out of buffalo, or bison, meat and would not have any for three or four weeks.
Bison raisers had begun liquidating herds what with the economy, according to the manager. But meanwhile the demand for the leaner, healthier buffalo meat began to grow like crazy. Thus the supply chain was falling behind and, even more interesting the manager said, it could be five years before the buffalo market would be back to normal. Five years?
That the manager took his time to explain all of this to me was impressive, hungry as I was. I also don’t doubt that what he told me was something he had been told by his suppliers or perhaps his corporate types. But I have been unable to find that herds had begun to be knocked off and even though supply is shorter than normal there doesn’t seem to be as much as a shortage as I interpreted there was, at least from the manager’s explanation.
No doubt, demand seems to be outstripping supply of bison meat. An executive of the North American Bison Cooperative told Adweek that the consumers have really seized upon — not literally — buffalo meat even though there is a record price differential between bison and beef.
I don’t know whether someone is blowing smoke about the herd liquidation or whether it is a fact. I tend to trust the manager’s story because he took time to tell me, something at least. That’s better that about 95 percent of what casual restaurants and fast food managers take time to do these days. I seriously do appreciate as well the manager telling me why I can’t get another bison burger for three weeks.
Perhaps the restaurant can’t get the meat to meet their profit margin, or perhaps there is a hitch in the supply chain. There is no question that Americans have begun to discover the tasty and not-so-artery-blocking wonders of buffalo meat. Whatever the reason I can’t get it at the restaurant that makes my favorite buffalo burger, it’s like I said. I can’t get it. At least for three more weeks. That’s a bummer, dude.
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