“Of course we are excited, that is why we come to work all the time is to sell the product,” he said.īut the idea of turning away customers and losing potential sales is a disappointing one. Gaffka is thrilled with the prospect of selling out. “We are looking at maybe over 20 cents a pound over last,” Gaffka said. “This particular year, we are unable to add to the order so we will sell out this year.”Īccording to the USDA, supply issues and cuts to turkey production that were already in the works have also caused the price of the birds to rise. “That 600 mark usually gives us a handful of leftovers, so at the end of the holiday we might have, I don’t know, 10 to 15 left over,” Gaffka said. He ordered 600 turkeys in July, but suppliers have let him know he won’t be able to order any extra like he usually does.
“This will be the biggest Thanksgiving we’ve ever had … because we are going to sell out,” said Gaffka, pointing to the orders lining his walls. He was busy keeping track of pre-orders on his wall of turkeys, which more than a week ahead of the big day was already 90% full. “This will be our first year since 1981 when I’ve been in control, and actually, if I probably date back to my father's time in 1947, it will probably be the first time that we’ve sold out of turkeys,” Gaffka said. But this year, he said his customers are ordering earlier than ever.