Fish & Chips is a British institution – up there with scones with jam & clotted cream and Ant & Dec. But, the humble chippy is facing struggles due to the cost of living crisis with up to a third set to close.
The average price of the Nation’s favourite takeaway has shot up to £9 in the last year as ingredients become more expensive, according to official stats.
A range of factors that have pushed prices up include food inflation, energy and fuel costs, and Russia invading Ukraine have all pushed up food costs that are being felt across the industry as well as at home.
Food inflation, energy and fuel costs, as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, had driven up the cost of ingredients and the power to cook them, chippies say.
Andrew Crook, the chairman of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), who owns Skippers of Euxton in Chorley, Lancashire says: “In the smaller shops it is very difficult to make a profit and there are a lot of shops up for sale at the moment.
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“Many of my members just feel completely ignored and disenfranchised. My profits are non-existent. I’m losing money and working for free at the moment. There are not many shops that are making profit. It is very difficult.
“Since March last year I’ve gone from £7.25 for fish and chips to £9.50. I’ve not put them up as much as I need to cover my cost increases. Potatoes are usually £8 a sack and will probably be £30 next week and I think they’ll reach £40 this year.
“Palm oil and beef dripping were £14 for 12.5kg and they’ve gone to £24 or £25. Sunflower oil was around £20 for 20 litres and is now at £43; and cod went from about £150 or £160 for 18kg to as high as £250.”
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Feature Image Credit: Papas Fish & Chips
