This year, however, wings costs did not recede. "Now it's getting worse than ever," he said.
"It's not just chicken wings, it's a lot of things to be honest," said Cody Stokes, a sales consultant with Sysco, a major food service distribution company.
Demand is putting pressure on beef, with meat plants still struggling to catch up, he said. Processing plants have labor issues like seemingly everyone else, putting a strain on everything from ribs to bacon.
"So much comes down to labor issues in the supply chain," Stokes said.
The current — and very likely temporary — wing shortage is also based in part on pent-up demand, with people going back to bars and staying out later. Wings, like pizza, also travel well for takeout, Stokes said.