Two meat plants which produce kosher beef have closed, making the kosher meat supply problem in the United States even worse.

Alle Processors, the nation’s largest producer of glatt kosher meat, had relied on the plants to produce their beef. The kosher beef industry had already suffered after PM Beef Holdings went bankrupt and closed its plant last year. PM had produced quality kosher beef for International, Hebrew National, and Solomon’s over the years.

Sources say Solomon’s is in the midst of constructing its own plant.

Alle and other companies like it may have to turn to Uruguay and Mexico for meat supply, but beef from many other countries in South America are restricted from exporting their meats to the US due to USDA restrictions.

Kosher companies, despite the closures, have kept up with demand, which some sources say continues to increase by 10% – 12% a year.

Israel has also been facing it’s own beef shortages, relying on imports from such countries as Poland and from many South American countries. Kashrut, though growing, still pales in comparison to mainstream non-kosher meat.

Plants have decided that kosher production is not worth it due to the extensive requirements for kosher slaughter which can disrupt operations of a plant.

Companies like Alle are constantly searching for new sources of kosher meat to keep up with demand as industry sources claim that an affluent younger Orthodox community is buying more beef products than ever before.

The sources also say that growing number of upscale kosher restaurants and hotel programs are adding to the demand and that natural growth particularly amongst Chasidic and Orthodox families is also increasing demand.