Up to half of Britain’s much-loved fish and chip shops could close within two years because of eye-wateringly high running costs. Steep price hikes on fresh fish, cooking oil, potatoes, and energy to cook the products means many owners are struggling to stay afloat.
There are around 10,500 fish and chip shops in the UK currently, but bosses at vinegar firm Sarson’s warn within three years this could halve to just 5,000.
A spokesman for Sarson’s said: “It’s no secret our chippies are facing turbulent times.
“Half of all chip shops are at risk of closure within the next two years because of rising ingredients, energy, and operational costs.”
Speaking to the Mirror, National Federation of Fish Friers’ Andrew Crook said: “Fish and chip shops are so deeply entrenched in our culture and history, the thought of them disappearing is unimaginable.”
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Mr Crook added: “But given the threat of closure, this may become a bleak reality. From rising cost to operational challenges chippies face, our national dish is in danger.”
Figures suggest that Britons eat around 380 million portions of fish and chips every year, on average seven per person, per year, and spend £1.2billion on the popular dish.
Sarson’s is encouraging people to increase the number of portions they buy from seven to nine. To achieve this figure, it has launched “Fryay”, where it gives away free portions every Friday until next February.
The company’s Vanni Cataldi said: “Fryay has one aim, to support the fish and chip shop industry during challenging conditions.”
While some fish and chip shops face potential extinction, it’s not the only traditional British dish which is falling out of favour.
A new poll suggests that other British dishes are falling children’s menus across the nation. Staples such as jacket potatoes and beans on toast are being replaced by more sophisticated dishes.
According to a new poll by British Lion Eggs, a quarter of children under the age of 10 have never tried toad in the hole and one in five have never tasted spaghetti hoops.
Meanwhile, up to 27 percent had never had cream of tomato soup and 25 percent had never tried tuna pasta bake. Experts said this was part of a drive by health-conscious parents to pack more nutrients into their children’s meals
Half of the parents who responded to the survey claimed traditional British dinners of their childhood weren’t healthy enough.
Figures from the poll suggested many of the dishes are considered old-fashioned. 77 percent of respondents said dishes such as fish fingers were outdated.
Filling the gap left by spaghetti hoops and fish fingers are superfoods such as avocados and eggs, which are high in vitamins and omega 3.
A spokesman for British Lion Eggs, Andrew Joret, told the Daily Mail: “‘Kids’ meal preferences, and what their parents choose to feed them, seems to be changing with nutrition and social media both impacting choices.
“However, our survey shows that eggs remain a constant favourite as they are nutrient-rich, quick, easy, and affordable, and parents can serve them runny to children of all ages including babies when they are stamped with the Lion mark.”
