Star dish: Customers usually confirm if turkey is served before making reservations at hotels. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
Birds going for RM70 per kilo this year
PETALING JAYA: As Christmas approaches, the appetite for turkey isn’t waning.
The centuries-old Christmas tradition continues despite higher turkey prices.
A butchery and wholesaler here, which sells various meats, sources its halal-certified turkeys from France.
According to a worker, Banuja Dissanayake, demand is higher this year compared with 2024, although prices have slightly increased.
“We only sell turkeys during the Christmas season and brought in 120 turkeys this year. They all weigh roughly between 4.2kg and 4.5kg. And we are already fully sold out.
“The demand is there although we raised the price from last year’s RM64 per kg to RM70 per kg this year.
“We have been sourcing turkeys for the Christmas period, serving various restaurants and our customers for over 15 years,” she said.
A hotel executive chef Antoine Rodriguez said that while turkey prices have been rising, the hotel has been putting roast turkey on the buffet menu for many years due to constant demand from customers.
Rodriguez said turkey prices have increased this year due to stricter halal regulations.
“Previously, we sourced turkeys from Brazil, which were sold at a reasonable price. Since Brazil no longer complies with local halal certification and health and safety regulations, we have decided to bring in turkeys from Negri Sembilan.
“Not only is the cost of feed increasing but managing the livestock in a hot, humid climate is difficult, all contributing to overall operating expenses.
“Nevertheless, many of our customers still ask if turkey is on the menu, as it is a common worldwide tradition for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Everybody wants a piece of turkey,” he said.
Hotel restaurant manager Mohd Faiz Hanafi said demand has always been consistent. “Whenever we receive phone calls inquiring about reservations, the question we often hear as we approach the Christmas period is ‘do you have turkey?’,” he said.
