Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine

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P r i n t

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V i s i o n

SEAFOOD FROM NORWAY WHERE QUALITY & SUSTAINABILTIY CREATE TRUST SEE PAGES 18-19 www.chippychat.co.uk

austen@chippychat.co.uk

TEL 01353 658216

Issue 7 Volume 11 July 2021

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Reign in Spain!

Back to the...

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

The Heir-Chip!

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Fabulous

Fish Roe Fritters A PROTEIN PACKED NUTRITIOUS MEAL

MAKE A DIFFERENCE. CHOOSE GUARANTEED SUSTAINABLE FISH.

Please contact your local distributor/ r/ supplier for further information.

2 Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021 Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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The Year March-es On! Summer!

Here’s Fishing You a Great

A

Well already approaching the

Austen Dack Publishing Editor

Austen Dack Publishing Editor

s the holiday season end of the first quarter of 2018! approaches our July Hopefully it will be a busy one for edition features many shops and suppliers as we approach of the top fish providers to our Mother’s day and Easter too. business.

My thanks of our Congratulations to alltoatallFriars fish partners for their submissions.

Pride.

Once again, they have Our Isle of Ely/Chippy Chat Open delivered a fantastic trade show Day nowmore only visitors a few weeks away. with is even it seemed There are a few FREE tickets left, than ever. plus oneoffering or two this supplier spaces A busy month for your delights. First offemail we review many available, please me for full of our oil and fat suppliers giving details. you the chance to see Read how one fish andwhat chip many family top shops are using and why. have gone back to their rootsAlso, and

we have our great sausage feature

repurchased their first shop. too!

Thanks to all of our advertisers and Our front-page partner for March is contributors, have a great Summer Pukka Pies. They supply millions of of trade one and all. pies to fish and chip shops across Austen the UK and they are helping usDack celebrate National Pie Week.

If you would like to advertise,

For latestor news checkout get the involved tell us some our website news please email me austen@ www.chippychat.co.uk chippychat.co.uk – thanks for your support me enjoy the issue.

Contact Austen austen@chippychat.co.uk with any news or if you would like to become a Chippy Chat Partner.

Chippy Chat Ltd Oak Lane Littleport Ely Cambridgeshire CB6 1RS

Chippy Chat Ltd

Oak Lane www.chippy-chat.co.uk Littleport Elyinfo@chippychat.co.uk Cambridgeshire Twitter CB6 1RS @Chippychat

Facebook Chippy-Chat www.chippy-chat.co.uk TEL 01353 865 966 info@chippychat.co.uk FAX Twitter 01353 863 444 @Chippychat Managing Director Facebook Chippy-Chat John Boutwood TEL 01353 658216 Publisher FAX 01353 863 444 Oliver Boutwood oliver@chippychat.co.uk Publishing Editor Managing Director Austen Dack John Boutwood austen@chippychat.co.uk 07863123929 Publisher Oliver Boutwood Subscriptions and Marketing Executive oliver@chippychat.co.uk Amanda Waterfield amanda@chippychat.co.uk Publishing Editor 01353 865 966 Austen Dack austen@chippychat.co.uk Design/Editorial 07863123929 Stuart Catterson stuart@cc-ff.com Design/Editorial

Stuart Catterson Accounts stuart@cc-ff.com Claire Boutwood-Potter accounts@chippychat.co.uk Accounts Claire Boutwood-Potter Printed in the UK by accounts@chippychat.co.uk The Magazine Printing Company Advertising Sales and Promotions Advertising Sales and Promotions austen@chippychat.co.uk austen@chippychat.co.uk For PR and Editorial For PR and Editorial editorial@chippychat.co.uk editorial@chippychat.co.uk

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021 Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • March 2018

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021 Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • March 2018

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The Big Apple!

Chippy offers NHS workers free fish

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Portishead fish and chip shop gave away free fish and chips to NHS workers on Mondays recently.

Kevin Appleby of Appleby’s Fish & Chips, on the Triangle in West Hill, gave away

WE HAVE SUPPLIED INBUILT SUPERPAD SYSTEMS (TRIPLE FILTRATION) FOR FACTORY FITTING TO: MARTYN EDWARDS

free hake and chips on Monday evenings to any NHS worker who can show their NHS ID. He said: “We have all showed our appreciation over the months, but I wanted to give our NHS workers a bit of a boost again now to show that even though we are looking at the light at the end of the tunnel, we realise and appreciate they are still giving 100 per cent on the frontline.”

In the first lockdown, Appleby’s also delivered free fish and chip suppers to a number of senior citizens in Portishead who had been forced to shield.

Kevin added: “I live in Portishead and I am keen to support the community whenever I can.

“The local community has come out to show its support for us and all the other local businesses during the pandemic and it’s always good to give back, that’s what makes the world go round.”

What have you done for frontline workers during the pandemic? Email austen@chippychat.co.uk

FRANK FORD KIREMKO (KFE) HENRY NUTTALL SCOTRANGE EDEN RANGE

WE HAVE ALSO RETRO-FITTED BASKET FILTRATION AND SUPER PAD UNITS TO SHOP INSTALLED RANGES. PLEASE CALL FOR ADVICE ON YOUR RANGE

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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Inside

JULY 2021

The Reign Stays in Spain!

Trenchers evolving but keeping the same victorious values

Diary Dates

6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22

From the Captain’s Table

Business or pleasure, dates not to be missed

Back to the Future!

The finest, most advanced fishing vessels

Wetherby Whaler relaunches in Tadcaster

Royal David’s Chippy!

Super Normal?

Isle of Ely Produce and Agrico

Game Changing Seafood From Norfisk!

The Summer of Love Love Seafood

Fisherman First!

The Day of Champions!!

Isle of Ely Produce and Chippy Chat open their doors to chip shop owners and managers

The Heir-Chip!

Gadus certified as a responsible fishing vessel

Every Fish Counts

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The old Worcester chippy

40 42

Quality Personified!

The search for the finest quality fish

Offishally the Best!

Smales famous for fish since 1937

We Love You & Miss You From all of us at Leinebris your Norwegian longline family!

The Voice of Fish!

Taking a Fresh Look at Frozen at Sea Fish

Pip & Chips

A new fish and chip shop has opened in Cleethorpes

Box Clever!

JJ Launches Retro-Style Bio-degradable Fish and Chip Boxes

What a TransforMation!

The Rock & Scallop restaurant in Pontyclun

Be Adventurous!

Hot Food Vending – A Very Reliable Form of Staff

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24 26 28 30

Es 30 tab Ye lish ar ed s

Choose Sustainable Seafood from Norway

Frying Range Engineers Servicing all makes of ranges, covering East Anglia, East Midlands & London/M25 Annual Range Servicing • Insurance Certificates Duct Steam Cleaning • Repairs • Modifications

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Refurbished / Rebuilds / New Traditional & Dutch Makes Extraction Systems & Ductwork Shopfitting Design & Refurbishment Fire Damage, Repairs & Upgrades

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

For prompt, efficient service please call:

01553 772935

sales@klsonline.co.uk Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021 In association with

Frying Ranges

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The Reign Stays in Spain!

Trenchers evolving but keeping the same victorious values

By Rosie Wowk

T

renchers has a reputation for serving some of the best fish and chips in the country and the Whitby establishment was deservedly awarded ‘Best Fish and Chip Restaurant in the UK’ at The 2019 National Fish and Chip Awards. But this reputation wasn’t built overnight, it’s 40 years in the making.

Trenchers Restaurant originally opened in 1980, launching as a seafood and fish and chip restaurant.

The menu was developed to make the most of the fresh produce available in the famous seaside town and prided itself on providing high-quality food.

This commitment to local ingredients and delicious freshly prepared dishes meant it became an instant hit with locals and tourists alike.

Following four decades of subtle adaptation, Trenchers familiar atmosphere is eternal. The wellloved decor may have been replaced, cooking equipment updated, and the menu revamped in places, but the soul of the restaurant remains the same.

The restaurant currently employs over 60 dedicated and hard-working members of staff, each one being responsible for ensuring service

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

with a smile is enjoyed during every visit. The management team are dedicated to creating a family atmosphere for customers dining at the restaurant and employees alike.

In 2019, Trenchers Whitby was proud to be awarded ‘Best Fish and Chip Restaurant in the UK’ at The National Fish and Chip Awards. The award recognises outstanding restaurants across the country that serve incredible fish and chips and provide excellent customer service.

After the success of the restaurant and takeaway in Whitby, plans were put in place to grow the brand and find a second location. In the summer of 2018, Whitby’s sister restaurant opened in the newly refurbished Spanish City, Whitley Bay. Spanish City is a Grade II listed building that originally opened in 1910 and is just a stone throw away from Whitley Bay’s Blue Flag Beach. It’s an iconic symbol of the Northeast and has had many uses in its 110 years including a cinema, ballroom, bingo hall, arcade and nightclub.

Trenchers was given a prime location inside Spanish City. It sits on the ground floor under the spectacular dome, which has been lovingly

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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restored to its former glory. It has a long sweeping bar and an open cooking range fitted out with topspec cooking equipment. It seats up to 160 in a mixture of stylish booths and marble tables with comfortable seating. In the centre of the room is a grand piano, which is played on specific evenings to give a magnificent feel to the restaurant.

Taking inspiration from its Whitby counterpart but also adding a modern touch, the menu is full of beautiful seafood dishes including, of course, fish and chips. The menu also has a range of meat, vegetarian and vegan options for those looking for something different than seafood.

In 2020, Spanish City’s Trenchers won ‘Best Fish and Chip Restaurant in the UK’, stealing the crown from its sister restaurant in Whitby. It was quite an achievement to win the award just 18 months after opening the restaurant. The team worked extremely hard to achieve this award and it was very well deserved. This victory has been extended due to the pandemic.

The COVID pandemic forced both restaurants to close for over three months in early 2020.

Both establishments decided to close for the first lockdown, choosing not to stay open for takeaway.

For Whitby, the pandemic saw the town closed to tourists, a large proportion of their customer base.

Slowly, as restrictions eased and people felt more comfortable coming back to the town, business started to pick back up. In its 40-year history, Trenchers in Whitby has survived and overcome a raging fire and a damaging flood, so its strong resilience was tested again, but not faltered, by the pandemic.

Both venues reopened initially with collection services, with Whitby running Call & Collect and Spanish City using their reservation system to install Click & Collect. These were firsts for both restaurants, showing their willingness to adapt to

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

the current climate. In the restaurants, both venues lost 50% capacity. Having fixed booths in the Whitby restaurant meant that tables were simply not used to create space and additional screens were installed in between tables. Spanish City had the luxury of more space, but social distancing meant many tables were removed.

One of the biggest challenges has been the ever-changing rules, often at short notice, and the confusion for customers created by the changes.

This has led to the loss of stock and a lack of confidence in customers in whether they should be dining out and travelling.

Protection against COVID was an extremely high priority for the Trenchers venues, putting a policy in place that went above and beyond what the government expected. Customers who visited either venue expressed how safe they felt when visiting.

Over the past 18 months, Trenchers has evolved as a business, modifying working practices, learning from experiences, and creating safe environments for staff and customers. This means Trenchers can continue to serve award-winning food and provide excellent customer to those wanting to enjoy fish and chips by the sea. www.trenchersrestaurant.co.uk

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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Diary Dates

Business or pleasure, dates not to be missed...

September 19th KFE Ball KFE Ball - It’s the social highlight of the KFE Calendar! The KFE Annual Ball is the perfect opportunity to kick back and have a good time with the best extended family there is, as well as getting involved in our traditional golf tournament. This year’s theme is Caribbean Party – get ready to get tropical!

September 18th - October 3rd British Food Fortnight

W

e are looking on the bright side and starting to put some dates in our diary.

If you have anything to add please email austen@chippychat.co.uk . All dates are subject to change due to the pandemic

July 5th - 11th

Why buy British? · Our aim is simple... to encourage people to discover the diverse and delicious food made in Britain

October 9th Isle of Ely Potato race

Great British Pea Week Celebrate your mushy peas!

October 9th – Isle of Ely Potato race – The World’s fastest potato race in Ely, Cambs – FREE CHIPS!

September 3rd British Pie Awards Including best fish and chip shop pie which is being judged by Chippy Chat editor Austen Dack in Melton Mowbray

September 12th Isle of Ely/Chippy Chat Open Day Back by demand the popular open day for chip shop owners

October 26th British Kebab Awards The Awards, which are sponsored

by JUST EAT and supported by the Kebab Alliance, recognise and champion the efforts of local kebab takeaways and restaurants across the UK. This prestigious ceremony is held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel on 26 October.

December 5th Chat py

ll 2 021

Chi p

The Chippy Chat Ball The Chippy Chat Ball returns.

Great reason to get together and finally have a party

Ch ristmas Ba

Keep up to date with trade events by visiting www.chippychat.co.uk and clicking on events. If you’re organising an event and would like to send us details so that we might mention it here and/or on the Chippy Chat website email your details to - austen@chippychat.co.uk

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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100% Natural British Beef Dripping for 100% Traditional Flavour From the modest potato chip to the finest fish fillet it’s all about what you fry it in. For the tastiest results go Superior, the most respected, refined and deodorised beef dripping in the business.

It’s naturally low in Tran’s fats, non-hydrogenated and delivers the high performance with the greatest economy enhancing the taste of your fried food.

Nortech Foods. New technologies behind traditional tastes.

For your nearest stockist call 01302 390880 9

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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Back to the Future!

Yorkshire fish and chip shop restaurant and takeaway, The Wetherby Whaler has relaunched in Tadcaster with the re-purchase of premises on Stutton Road.

F

ounded in 1969 by Janine and Phillip Murphy, the family-owned group of fish and chip restaurants and takeaways has become synonymous with high quality fish and chips, and exceptional customer service. Employing over 200 full and part time staff across seven locations in Yorkshire. The Wetherby Whaler serves over one million portions of haddock across its restaurants and takeaways each year.

Originally purchased by Janine and Phillip from his Uncle and Aunt, the Tadcaster premises were run by the founding duo of the Wetherby Whaler until 1989 when it was sold to Ray and Rose Devaney to enable the purchase of the first Whaler premises in Wetherby.

Ray and Rose ran the business on Stutton Road until their retirement in November 2020.

On launching in Tadcaster, Caroline Murphy and Joanne Westmoreland,

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

daughters of Janine and Phillip and Directors at The Wetherby Whaler, commented: “We’re really proud to be returning to our Tadcaster roots; it feels as though we’ve come full circle. The response from the people of Tadcaster has been really positive, and residents are extremely excited to have their very own Whaler for the first time. We spent many happy times working on the counter with our mum and dad over 30 years ago, and it’s great to see so many Tadcaster residents enjoying fish and chips at Stutton Road.”

The premises have been fully refurbished, including a new range from Hopkins, based in Pudsey, to replace the original range installed in 1985.

Chippendale Shopfitters, also based in Leeds, were hired to complete the refurbishment.

Customers can select ‘click and collect’ when ordering their fish and chips from the Stutton Road branch, and longer opening hours have been established.

Phillip Murphy, Co-Founder of The Wetherby Whaler, added: “I’m so proud to see my family involved in keeping The Whaler a household name across Yorkshire and ensuring we continue to provide the public with delicious fish and chips. At The Wetherby Whaler we believe that good, honest British food brings people together. This guiding principle has enabled us to develop the foundation for the ‘whaler experience’ which continues to be a roaring success.

“Although our involvement has lessened over the years, myself and Janine’s washing up talents have certainly been put to good use since reopening in Tadcaster.”

For more information, please visit www.wetherbywhaler.co.uk/.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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Super Normal?

Game Changing Seafood From Norfisk!

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t Norfisk we procure only the highest quality long-line Norwegian Cod and Haddock. All fish is responsibly sourced and ‘Frozen at Sea’ on board select vessels resulting in a premium fillet of optimal standards.

“Our brand of longline fillets is fast becoming a game changer for interleaved boneless fillet supply into the Fish & Chip sector” says Commercial Director Matthew. “ We l aunch e d ou r trawled version of the brand into Ireland in 2018 and have had huge success there. Continuity of product and supply all year round at stable prices is clearly a big plus for friers.

The industry is undoubtably short of longline fillets that are pan ready, so we saw a gap in the market. In the current climate it’s all about food safety and consumers are fully conscious of the long-term planet gains as a reflection of what they consume and thrive on knowing this before they eat. More selective fishing, intact seabeds, lower greenhouse emissions and unwanted bycatch are just a few of the benefits of long-lining and consumers love to see and hear these facts.”

Matthew goes on to say “more recently we have progressed the brand with long-line fillets into our range. Our processing partners have decades of experience in buying only the best quality fish and we felt obligated to offer a higher volume of premium boneless fillets to the fish frying trade. Our state-of-the-art facilities take the headed and gutted fish down to temperature that barely allows them to fillet the fish then within minutes it’s interleaved and plate frozen.”

Research company Nofima have analysed and compared fish caught by long-lining and fish from trawler catches. This has shown that line-caught fish has a whiter flesh and gives a firmer fillet. The most important reasons for the better flesh quality of line-caught fish are better bleeding out and less compression damage,” says researcher Bjørn Tore Rotabakk.

Both the compression damage and the poor bleeding out are caused because trawling brings up from five to twenty tons of fish onto the deck each time, while with long-lining the fish are brought on board one by one. Researchers have carried out chemical, technical and sensory analyses in order to assess fish quality.

Taste assessors have judged the fish on colour, texture, smell, splitting and surface, while chefs at the Gastronomic Institute have assessed the flavour. The conclusion of both groups is that line-caught fish has a much higher quality.

So, whilst Norfisk is relatively new to the market it’s not aiming to revolutionise the industry – only to offer the more conscious buyer a convenient alternative to trawled and to compliment the Fish and Chip sector, one that they know prides itself on very high standards!

Contact T: 01925 649236 www.norfisk.co.uk E: mc@marisseafoods.co.uk

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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www.norfisk.co.uk | sales@norfisk.co.uk

A L L Y E A R R O U N D S U P P LY

S U S TA I N A B LY H A R V E S T E D I N T H E N O R T H AT L A N T I C

SKINLESS & BONELESS LINE-CAUGHT INTERLE AVED COD & HADDOCK 13

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

6-8oz | 8-10oz | 10-12oz | 12-16oz

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The T Summer of Love

o celebrate a summer of Feel-Good Food, Love Seafood by Seafish is encouraging consumers across the UK to choose the nation’s favourite takeaway – fish and chips. This year, more people than ever will be staycationing due to travel restrictions, which brings a huge opportunity for the sector to increase sales.

At Love Seafood, we’ll be supporting fish and chip shops during July with an integrated marketing campaign to ensure the nation’s favourite dish is front of mind as consumers head off on local adventures. We’ve got a whole host of activity planned to include advertising, PR, social media and more.

Love Seafood (from Seafish) launches fun Fish & Chip sector Campaign

Out of home advertising If you live in Belfast, Bristol, Glasgow or Liverpool, keep your eyes peeled for our branded telephone kiosks. Featuring striking new imagery showcasing fish and chips in all its glory, the phone boxes are located close to a number of fish and chip shops. The ads aim to get mouths watering and encourage consumers to pop into a local shop and buy a portion of fish and chips.

Free fish and Chips We’re also popping up at tourist hot spots across the country. The week of July 19, we’ll be at some well-known seaside locations to give away free fish and chips. While we’re there we’ll be asking local residents to share their favourite memories of the classic dish with us. This activity will run in tandem with giveaways at costal shops and be promoted via local press, influencers and across our social media channels.

PR We’ll be writing a series of engaging fish and chip features to pitch to media titles across the country, again inspiring people to choose fish and chips. As well as letting local media outlets know where we’ll be and when, we’ll be creating some fun and sharable content to pitch to nationwide titles that heroes the nation’s favourite dish.

You might find this content usable for your own website and social media channels, so keep your eyes on the Love Seafood website for the content when it goes live and feel free to use it.

Influencers We’ll be working with popular influencers from around the country on our @loveseafooduk Facebook, Instagram and Twitter channels.

They’ll be sharing their favourite spots for a fun filled summer day out, which of course wouldn’t be complete without a portion of fish and chips.

How you can get involved As well as sharing the content we’re producing on your own website and social media channels, we’ve produced a range of marketing materials you can use in your shop to encourage customers to choose fish and chips. Simply visit https://www.seafish.org/ promoting-seafood/love-seafood-consumer-brand/ or get in touch with us at loveseafood@seafish.co.uk to find out how to get involved.

About Love Seafood: Launched in October 2020 and developed in partnership with industry, Love Seafood by Seafish is an ambitious long-term consumer marketing initiative which aims to bring together seafood champions to inspire the nation to live a better, more balanced lifestyle. Love Seafood aims to change the nation’s perceptions of seafood.

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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To celebrate a summer of Feel Good Food, Seafish’s Love Seafood initiative is encouraging the UK to choose the nation’s favourite takeaway.

Find out more at: www.seafish.org/love-seafood

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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www.loveseafood.co.uk

Fisherman First!

Gadus certified as a responsible fishing vessel

G

adus is among the first 10 vessels in the world to be certified by Global Seafood Assurances in accordance with The Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard.

The Faroese trawler Gadus specialises in fishing cod fillets in the Barents Sea for the UK fish and chip market. The Faroese vessel operator JFK has operated vessels out of the Faroe Islands since 1922, where it prides in a long-lasting reputation for putting the fishermen first.

The revised Standard is comprised of two core principles – vessel management and safety systems; and crew rights, safety and wellbeing. Its strong focus on crew welfare on board fishing vessels is underpinned by Work in Fishing Convention ILOc188 and other global conventions.

“I would like to congratulate JFK on their achievement with the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard. It is essential that we ensure fish stocks are preserved and JFK are Marine Stewardship Council certified for that purpose. Now they have added certification that ensure the crews on the boats catching that fish are trained and looked after to the highest standards too” commented Andrew Crook, President of the NFFF. Hanus Hansen, CEO of JFK, also

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

expressed satisfaction with Gadus receiving the RFVS certification: “The RFVS certification process is for us a good way forward, not just to tick the boxes of what we are doing right, but also to bring ourselves in line with internationally accepted best crewing practices. Such certification enables us to provide our customers with independent assurance that we, as their supplier, engage, employ, pay, and treat all our crew equally, fairly, and further that they are trained in safety.”

Jogvan Hansen Director of JFK was recently in the UK to promote the award and also visit some of the fish and chip shops who faithfully use his fish brands.

One stop was to the Grosvenor Fish & Chip shop in Norwich. Co-owner Christian Motta said “Gadus cod is the best of the best of any fish we buy. It is so fresh, meaty, and the thick flaky pieces of cod are the brightest of white I have ever seen, our customers love Gadus cod.”

Jogvan was joined by Friars Pride MD Rebecca Lord, Imogen Rowland-Stone, & Chippy Chat Publishing Editor Austen Dack for the chippy visit. The four enjoyed Gadus cod and chips and were joined by owners Christian and partner Duane Dibartolomeo. Before lunch they also took a trip to Friars Pride’s Norwich depot where they enjoyed a whistle stop tour

by Depot Manager Danny Betts. Austen Dack said “The depot was immaculate; it was fascinating to see so many wellknown chip shop brands under one roof.

The cold store was home to many tonnes of FAS fish, including of course Gadus.

Our visit to The Grosvenor fish and chips was excellent & the ambience food and owners are incredible.”

Jogvan later travelled to Hull to meet Smales and then continue his tour of the UK. Visit www.jfk.fo

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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GADUS

FISHERMEN FIRST

sansir.fo

We are very proud to announce that Gadus has received the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard (RFVS) certification, which certifies our high standards of vessels management and safety systems including the rights, safety and well-being of our crew.

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Read more about our Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021 on www.jfk.fo

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021certifications

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Every Fish Counts Choose Sustainable Seafood from Norway

W

ith brutally cold temperatures and a rough climate, Norway is an inhospitable place for humans – but these unforgiving qualities also make Norway the perfect home for seafood.

The Norwegian coast, including all the islands and fjords, is over 100,000km long – more than double the length of the equator. Norway’s chilly coastal waters provide the perfect conditions for both inshore fisheries and aquaculture.

Which is why, for thousands of years, the hardy Norwegians who settled in this tough landscape have made fishing their livelihood.

Seafood is Norway’s second biggest industry (after oil). As such, fishing is an inextricable part of the Norwegian economy, and a deep love of the sea is embedded in Norwegian culture.

Its fishing traditions date back thousands of years, from the Vikings, who battled the cold to build communities along the coast, to Leif Erikson, the famous explorer, whose voyage to America was possible only thanks to a steady supply of dried cod – a product created using fresh cod, wooden racks and the power of Norway’s climate as an open-air dryer.

It is no surprise, then, that today Norway is a fishing nation bursting at the seams with years of knowledge. Quite simply, fishing is in Norwegians’ genes.

Sustainable wild fisheries management leaders From pioneering management and regulations to diverse fishing fleets, everything the Norwegians do has sustainability at its heart. All Norwegian cod and haddock is MSC-certified. So important is responsible stewardship that it has underpinned the entire cod fishing process since 1987, when Norway imposed a discard ban. In the years since, there have been virtually no cases of illegal, unreported or unregulated cod fishing in Norwegian waters.

Over the years the industry has evolved from free fishing to strict regulation.

Fisheries use a range of catch methods, from trawling to hand-line, and Norway was the first country to implement a quota system. The quotas in place are recommended by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea – a leading international research body, which assesses stocks and helps the Norwegians plan for the future.

Implementing its strict quotas enables Norwegians to maintain healthy fish stocks, ensuring that they have never overfished – and never will.

Be proud to cite and shout about “Norwegian” seafood on your menu Whether you choose seafood from Norway for its superior quality, green credentials or simply the story, you’ll be sourcing ingredients from a country where they take great pride in their fishing methods and rich heritage. Where fishing is not just an industry but a way of life, so be proud to cite “Norwegian” produce on your fish and chip menu.

For further information on quality, legislation and sustainability please visit www.seafoodfromnorway.co.uk

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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Every fish counts.

For more than 120 years Norway has been a global leader in marine research and sustainable stock management.

Our deep-rooted knowledge gives confidence our precious resources are responsibly managed and harvested using the best possible insight.

Knowledge begins with experience.

Choose Norwegian seafood.

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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Quality Personified!

The search for the finest quality fish brings us into contact with the best companies around the world

D

ating back to 1920, T. Quality was founded by Tim Wilson and Ken Dale to essentially provide important deliveries into the locality, with a long-term mindset of developing a national delivery network. Roll on over 100 years and T. Quality has long since achieved its ambition and is now positioned as industry leaders in providing the finest frozen at sea produce and delivering it across the UK. Amongst the strongest aspects of T. Quality’s service is the sheer reliability that the firm offers to its clients. Now operating at significant scale, the organisation has 10 national depots and have gained the reputation for produce only from those suppliers with the highest standards, integrity, and reputation.

T. Quality sources fish from major trusted brands in the industry including Gadus, Kirkella, Glacialis, Brim, Grandi, Royal Greenland, Granit, Enniberg, Pescafaria and Ramoen. This enables us to supply a wide range of frozen fish including Cod, Haddock, Hake, Pollack, Plaice and Dog Fish. Our fish is all caught using sustainable fishing methods in our ongoing quest to protect the environment and is fully traceable so our customers can track their fish all the way to the source.

Within the organisation we are constantly looking to get the best

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

possible price for the highest standard of quality.

Our highly experienced dedicated fish procurement team is in regular contact with trawlers to get the latest catch reports. Naturally, our search for the finest quality fish brings us into contact with the best companies around the world.

Not only do we provide the best quality Frozen at Sea fish (FAS fish), we also stock an impressive range of IQF fish be it IQF Cod, IQF Haddock and IQF Plaice & IQF Pollack. Whether it’s Skin On, Skinless or Skinless and Boneless you are looking for, we are sure to have the perfect product to meet your requirements. The origin of our IQF fish is the cold Icelandic waters to the North Atlantic territories to the fishing grounds around the Faroe Islands.

With the launch of the T. Quality online store, customers can see at a glance all the fish, prices and offers available to them, and we have a team of highly trained customer care advisors on hand to answer any queries. During this current time and since March 23rd 2020 when lockdown started, we have kept to 100% service levels for our customers and as keyworkers, we have continued delivering and offering our click and collect service.

For further information about T. Quality please go to www.tquality.co.uk or call 0330 1243707.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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Frozen at Sea

Caught at Sea

Delivered to your door

WHY BUY FROZEN AT SEA (FAS)

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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Smales famous for fish since 1937

F

Offishally the Best!

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

or over 80 years the Smales family have been supplying Fish & Chip shops across the UK with premium quality Cod & Haddock. Founded in 1937, Smales remains wholly and independently owned by the Smales family. During this time the business has developed an excellent reputation throughout the UK, thanks to its sourcing of quality fish and seafood, coupled with its experienced and dedicated team of employees.

From being the first UK importer of Frozen At Sea fillets for distribution to the Fish & Chip sector, we have built strong trading links with quota holding fishing companies in Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Russia and many other countries, which allows us to offer our customers the widest choice of Frozen At Sea brands in the market as well as providing reassurance and continuity to thousands of business throughout the country - including many winners of the National Fish & Chip Awards. Today we are the largest supplier of Frozen At Sea fillets direct to Fish Friers and supply many leading vessel brands – as well as specialising in the supply of Line Caught Norwegian fillets.

Our range of products extends further than Frozen At Sea fillets and we offer Individually Quick Frozen fillets such as Haddock, Plaice and Sea Bass; an extensive list of Seafood items including Prawns, Scampi, Fish Cakes and Squid; plus a number of core Fish & Chip menu items like Sausages, Pies, Coated Chicken and much more.

The Smales distribution network covers the whole of England and Wales via one of our 7 regional distribution centres, offering a reliable, friendly delivery service direct to your door, and through selected haulage partners we also arrange frequent deliveries to Scotland, Ireland, Europe and beyond!

We continually train and invest in key personnel which allows us to ensure our customers have access to the best and most relevant market information as well as a high standard of customer service. As a result of recent investments in our infrastructure we offer a weekly next day delivery service to our customers throughout the UK. The company continues to work closely with long standing supply partners to enable us to introduce and develop innovative products in order to give our customers the choice and variation they need to stay ahead of the market.

With over 380 combined years of experience in the industry, our knowledgeable sales team are on hand to give the best advice on brand or product availability, pricing and delivery service.

Contact Smales today on 01482 324997 to discuss how we can support your business.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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WE & WE MISS From all of us at Leinebris your Norwegian longline family!

“T

ogether we will overcome the pandemic. We will do our utmost at sea, while you continue to serve the world’s best fish and chips.”

Leinebris is a modern Norwegian longliner.

Environmentally friendly and sustainable catching method Family company producing cod and haddock

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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LOVE YOU YOU

“Want to try our skinless cod?

Please contact Friars Pride and Smales”

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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The Voice of Fish!

F or more than 40 years, Friars Pride has supplied the finest frozen at sea (FAS) fillets. Thanks to their direct relationships with major trawlers, the premier food supplier can source a continuous supply of FAS fillets for fish and chip shops throughout the Midlands, South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, the East, the South, the Southeast, the Southwest and South Wales.

Friars Pride is MSC certified and a member of the Frozen at Sea Fillets Association (FASFA). They actively support initiatives to promote the sustainability and management of cod and haddock stocks from Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Norway, Russia, and the Barents Seas.

Despite difficult fishing conditions earlier in the year, particularly in Icelandic waters due to poor weather, new catches of Rammi skinless boneless and skinless PBI in all grades will land in July.

Commenting on the new landings, Rebecca Lord, Friars Pride Managing Director said: “Many of our major trawler partners including Rammi have experienced a challenging start to the fishing season.

Stocks of 12-16oz, 16-32oz and 32oz+ have been good, but a number of our customers do prefer the smaller 8-10oz and 10-12oz fillets, which we will have an increased supply of later this month.”

Rammi cod is frozen at sea within two hours of being caught on board the Solberg. This means the fish’s freshness and flavour is sealed in. Freezing the fish at sea also stops any deterioration to the fish through drip loss.

Friars Pride has an exclusivity with Rammi for its tighter grade OceanPremium fillets, and the water cut OceanReserve fillets.

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Many of the top fish friers in the country cook with Rammi for its amazing, sweet taste. This is what Josh Smith from Fishers of Hunstanton says about Rammi.

“The quality white fish is very well received by our customers. The overall consistency and portion-controlled sizes are great for us. You just know what you are getting. A quality, premium frozen at sea fish. There are no complaints.”

Friars Pride has invested in large cold stores and frozen compartments in dual compartment vehicles to ensure frozen at sea fillets are stored and delivered to its customers in the best possible condition.

Fresh fillets from the Faroe Islands are also available from one of Friars Pride’s FAS trawler partners, JFK Gadus.

That is the beauty of frozen at sea fillets; they are processed within hours of being caught giving a consistent fresh quality, and because they are filleted and frozen on board, there are no issues around long-term storage or shortage of supplies being available to shops.

If you are looking for sustainable, high quality fish then frozen at sea is the perfect choice and Friars Pride has direct partnerships with all the major trawlers – Rammi, Leinebris, JFK Gadus, Glacialis and Thor Fisheries – ensuring a continuous supply of exceptional quality FAS fillets in traditional sizes and tighter grades.

Contact Friars Pride Head Office & Peterborough Depot Oxney Road Industrial Estate Peterborough PE1 5YW T: 01733 316400 E: sales@friarspride.com www.friarspride.com

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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“ We love us ing Rammi because yo u can taste the freshness a nd we only like to ser v e quality fi sh that is MSC certified . O ur customers adore it!”

Richard Sto ne, Owner, Becks Fish and C hips, Carbis Bay

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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Fish & Pips A new fish and chip shop has opened in Cleethorpes – and it has its very own homemade cheese sauce. Pip’s Chips, on Grimsby Road, already has regular customers after opening in late February.

O

wners Pippa Gilbert, 48, and her partner Mark Aldridge, 47, have always dreamt of owning their own chip shop. Originally from Skegness, the couple packed up their lives and moved to Cleethorpes to pursue their dream. Pippa said: “Moving wasn’t anything to us – we picked up everything and moved.”

Both Pippa and Mark worked at Butlin’s in Skegness for about 21 years before being placed on furlough during the Covid-19 pandemic. Pippa added: “We were sat in the garden one day and decided we didn’t want to go back. We wanted to become our own boss. We’ve always wanted to open a chip shop and we have fallen in love with it. Everyone has been so friendly.

We have already had customers who have come back in.”

Mark has worked in the catering industry since he was 16 years old – and wanted to serve up “simple food, done well”.

He said: “Our unique selling point is our cheese sauce. It’s something different. You can order it with your chips or have it on your fish. Nobody else does it here – give us try.”

The couple struggled to set up their business due to the uncertainty

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

created by the Covid-19 pandemic and the three lockdowns.

It took about four to five months for their paperwork to go through the bank - but they are happy to be up and running now.

Mark added: “We want to serve a constantly great product with great service every time.”

Pip’s Chips serves up traditional fish and chips, fishcakes, sausages, chicken breasts, among more.

It is open Wednesday and Thursday from 11.30am to 2pm and 4.30pm to 7pm, and Friday and Saturday between 11.30am and 7pm.

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Our wheat is sustainably grown and milled within 40 mile area of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire We’re proud to back British farming by keeping our wheat local.

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

BORN AND BRED29IN GAINSBOROUGH

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Box Clever!

JJ Launches Retro-Style Bio-degradable Fish and Chip Boxes

W

rapping fish and chips in newspaper may have been banned since the 1980’s, but JJ is bringing the retro-vibe back!

A range of food safe, newspaper-effect takeaway boxes have been launched following feedback from fish and chip shop customers.

In an exclusive JJ survey conducted with UK chippies*, 45% of shops said they wanted a newspaper-effect box design.

When shopping for packaging, 84% of shop owners said that price is crucial.

This was followed by quality (70%), heat retention (65%) and sturdiness (48%). 40% specifically asked for biodegradable or compostable options.

Tailor-made for fish and chip shops “Our team has been working hard to come up with a design that combines all this feedback,” said JJ’s Marketing Manager, Omar El-Haj. “The result is a robust, eye-catching box that keeps food hot and crispy while

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

being biodegradable and compostable,” he said.

With the Staycation boom expected to benefit UK hospitality, 97% of shops said they expect to need more packaging in 2021.

“We are always adding to our range and will continue to offer quality packaging at great prices,” said Omar.

The easy-to-build boxes are available in 5”, 9”, 10” and 12”, priced from just £0.06p per box.

Visit: go.jjfoodservice.com FishChipBoxes www.jjfoodservice.com

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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NEW TRADITIONAL NEWSPAPER DESIGN FISH AND CHIP BOXES  Biodegradable and Compostable  Vent Holes  Grease Resistant  Food-Safe

G O. J J FO O D S E RVIC E.COM /F IS HCH IPB OX ES 31

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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What a TransforMation!

Team behind award-winning The Crispy Cod to open The Rock & Scallop restaurant in Pontyclun

I

n 2018 a Pontyclun pub The Bute was snapped up by the owner of awardwinning fish and chip shop The Crispy Cod. Mathew Williams’ vision was to turn the village pub into another fish and chip shop.

But three years later, after building up his Gelli fish shop and closing the original Crispy Cod in Tonyrefail, the newest addition to The Crispy Cod family will be going in a different direction - a fresh fish and seafood restaurant and fishmongers called The Rock & Scallop.

Borne out of Mathew’s love of fresh seafood and following the successful platter delivery service that took off during the summer last year, The Rock & Scallop will serve fresh fish and seafood. It’s something which the dad-of-two is confident there is a gap in the market for in Pontyclun and the surrounding areas of Rhondda Cynon Taf and beyond.

“We believe in the area so much. We’ve been very fortunate to secure the funding to finish off the building and it’s going to be a takeaway, a fishmongers and a restaurant,” said Mathew, whose fish and chip shops have been awarded three Welsh Fish & Chip Shop of the Year titles.

He is keen to open the restaurant on Llantrisant Road by the middle of the year.

The 39-year-old said the design would be ‘industrial’ and will have a fresh seafood counter and a lobster tank.

“We’ll have a fresh fish counter in the restaurant, we’ve got a large alfresco dining area and a terrace of about 40 seats,” he said.

“It’s been a long time coming. I’ve worked in top restaurants throughout Wales and I

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wanted to start a family so I set up my own business, The Crispy Cod. It’s great serving fish and chips, but I had a spark again after I went to Japan and I ate in some amazing seafood restaurants. And then in lockdown, it was mental, we started doing the seafood platters with a friend of mine who’s a trawlerman in Saundersfoot, and there was a surplus of lobster because all the restaurants were closed, so we utilised that.”

“The big thing for The Rock & Scallop will be fresh, day bought fish and seafood.

I’m not interested in fish that’s being flown in from around the world. Simple, honest, Welsh and British shellfish. 85% of our menu will be British fish. We will have other dishes on the menu like beef and lamb.”

“We’re keeping things local, we’re keeping our people in jobs, and it just needs to be the best we can be. Why should we have our fishermen risking their lives to send it to France and Spain? I know it’s about business, but if people in this country eat more of if it. It’s frustrating. We should be eating more of our own produce. “We’ve built up an awesome reputation in the valleys and now we want to bring in a different concept,” he said.

Are you selling lots of fresh fish? Email austen@chipychat.co.uk

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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We are passionate about potatoes and their potential

For decades Meijer Potato has been breeding only the best varieties to suit the demands of the market.

We focus on ensuring reliable fry appearance, texture and flavour to give you a premium product. Helping you to deliver the perfect chip that both looks and tastes great!

Everybody deserves to enjoy food.

We are Meijer Potato

Accord Early favourite, white fries and that fresh new season taste

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Bayfield Brecks Barns, Garden Lane Letheringsett, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 7DZ Tel: 01263 710602 Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Lady Anna Great taste, less waste, premium fries

Lady Terra A whiter fry with dry matter to extend that new season feeling

info@meijerpotato.co.uk www.meijerpotato.co.uk

 Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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Be Adventurous!

Hot Food Vending – A Very Reliable Form of Staff

A

s a business owner, a lot of pressure is held on your shoulders. As the weeks and months go by, you become aware of the footfall in your shop, allowing you to make sure you have enough staff to cope with the demand. That’s all great until your staff can’t make it because they might be ill, or something has occurred in their personal life and they can’t make it to work. You’re now stressed out, worrying about how you are going to keep up, you’ve got a sick day to pay, yet no staff to help with the busy queues you know you’ll be faced with for the day. Does this sound familiar?

With a Hot Food Vending Machine, personal days aren’t a thing. They are so low maintenance, yet so effective at doing their job.

Let me explain…

These Hot Food Vending Machines have 8 compartments, which can either be set to a hot temperature, anywhere between 65o – 100o to keep your food nice and warm. If you don’t need the heat, don’t worry, they can also be used at room temperature, for those products which taste better ambient.

Once the product has been placed in the compartment, the machine does all the work for you. It will monitor how long it can be displayed for, locking the compartment from the customers side when its expired. Don’t worry though, you’ll be notified by the LED lights prior to let you know it needs replacing, if you get to that point.

All the customer needs to do is scan their card on the contactless scanner or place the correct amounts of coin into the vending machine, pull the handle for the compartment with the desired food in, and take their food. It’s so simple, and super quick – 15 seconds!

Imagine that: a device which serves your customers, monitors your food, deals with the money and you don’t even have to pay it a wage, just benefit from the income!

Get in contact with Pro Fry Ltd to find out more: 01778 342915 info@profryltd.uk www.profryltd.co.uk 111 Spalding Road Deeping St James PE6 8SD 34

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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PRO FRY LTD

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FAST FRYING BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED BRILLIANTLY EFFICIENT COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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info@profryltd.uk

From the Captain’s

By Captain Baz & Captain Shaun

C

aptain’s Cod Company was founded by Alaskan fishermen for seafood lovers everywhere. Our Captains sail aboard the finest and most advanced fishing vessels, catching 100% sustainable Wild Alaskan cod.

Captain Baz Lloyd was born and raised in Eastern WA. He has fished the icy waters of the Bering Sea for 20+ years aboard Alaskan Leader Fisheries’ longlining vessels. These state-of-the-art fishing vessels use hook-and-line gear to haul each fish onboard one fish at a time. This method of fishing is considered the most eco-friendly and non-evasive process in the world. Through Captain Baz’s many years in the fishing industry, and his original culinary passion, he created what is now our Captain’s Cod Company menu.

Captain Shaun Andrew was born in Wenatchee Washington and raised in Kodiak, AK. He has fished the Bering Sea for 30+ years. Captain Shaun is an Owner/ Operator at Alaskan Leader Fisheries and Captain of the 187 ft., F/V Northern Leader. This flagship is where the absolute finest cod is harvested yearround. Within one hour of being caught, each fish is processed and frozen at sea,

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Table sealing in the freshest quality possible.

Captain’s Cod Company was formed in honour of our late friend and founder of Alaskan Leader Fisheries, Mr. Nick Delaney. One of his many visions was to bring Alaska’s finest codfish directly to the hands of consumers throughout the United States. We hope to carry out a piece of Nick’s legacy in Captain’s Cod Company, as we pay tribute to him through our hard work, to deliver to you the freshest and most delicious whitefish, Wild Alaskan Cod! Our fish is shipped directly from the docks of Dutch Harbour Alaska to Captain’s Cod Company, where we hand prepare it specially for our customers!

“From Our Boat to Your Basket,” we welcome you aboard and hope to serve you soon!

They quickly expanded to travel around Central Washington and also to the TriCities of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland.

Their limited menu does not limit flavour. All their fish is line caught by crews working for them on their own boats — Alaska Leader Fisheries — making it direct from sea to table.

Andrew remains the captain of the ecofriendly Northern Leader, one of the four boats the company owns. Captain’s Cod truck features a cod fish and chips basket for $12.50. For a couple of extra dollars, they offer a gluten-free fish and chips with a rice flour recipe, which is fried in separate fryer.

Also on the menu are cod sandwiches, cod fritters and fritter kids meals. You can buy the fish a la carte for $10 if you want to skip the fries.

The Tri - City Herald Catch something new for dinner this month when two Alaskan fishermen bring a fish and chips food truck to Tri-Cities.

Baz Lloyd and Shaun Andrew the owners of the Wenatchee-based food truck started Captain’s Cod last in the Wenatchee area in Washington after decades of fishing in Alaska’s Bering Sea.

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Once more in Isle of Ely Produce have been promoting a new Chip Ambassador role to promote the great British Chip in association with Agrico.

The aim will be to carry on the good work promoting chipping potatoes at their hugely successful open days, and through the ‘Field to Frier’ award.

By Austen Dack

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T

he Chip Ambassadors are part of an UK wide group of shop owners and fryers who will promote best practice for potato buying, storing, and of course frying. The chain will also include key growers too like PJ Lee & Sons, and A. L. Lee Farming Company, as IOE looks to nurture the relationships they have grown across the whole supply chain during the last twenty years.

Agrico have partnered with Isle of Ely Produce to bring two new varieties into the trade initially via our Chip Ambassadors. The two varieties Babylon and Lugano will be sampled at some of these ambassadors to back up the results of early trial successes.

This time I visited Millers of Haxby for National Fish & Chip Day. They held a very successful demonstration of how they

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

only use the vest of ingredients including fresh cut chips via PG and Isle of Ely Produce and fresh frozen fish from the crews of the Norwegian vessels Ramoen and Leinebris via Seafood from Norway and Smales.

I managed to find a sample of Babylon for them to try on this special day. They (Babylon) travelled well (from farm to frier via a three-hour train journey. Both David and Nick Miller were impressed with them.

David said “We procure only the finest ingredients here at Millers. Moving forward the quality, size, texture and of course taste of Babylon fits this procurement strategy.” Nick said “It is great to taste a new variety of potatoes on National Fish & Chip Day, despite the fact we are very late on in the season, the held up well, looked good and tasted incredible.”

It was a great day at Millers, and it was so good once again to taste their awardwinning food and offer them a new variety to consider in the future.

Oliver Boutwood Isle of Ely Director says. “It’s good to hear so many shops like the all-round good characteristics of Babylon. We are pleased with this partnership between Agrico IOE and chip shop owners.”

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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Royal David’s Chippy!

Alex Moore, Agrico UK Sales Manager said: “We are thrilled to be working closely with Isle of Ely Produce & the Chip Ambassadors to launch two exciting new varieties. As a business we are always trying to breed better tasting and more sustainable potato varieties.”

Chip shop owners already signed as Chip Ambassadors for Isle of Ely Produce include Colin Cromer – The Fish Hoose, Kerry Brennan – Golden Union, David Henley – Henley’s, Richard Ord Jr – Colmans, Eric Snaith – Eric’s, Kelly & Tim Barnes – Krispies, Lauren Kellaway – Kellaways, Charlie Collins – Frydales, Fred Capel- Chez Fred, Matt & Ashley Phillips

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

– Shap Chippy, Malachy Mallon The Dolphin Takeaway, Richard Foster – Fish and Chips at Weston Grove, Emir Hikary – Hiks, Alan Shillingford – Shillingfords, Gregg Howard The Chip Shed, Ian Wallis Henry’s Hunstanton, John Hudgell Pimp my Fish, The Petrou Brothers, Marcus French, Millers Haxby, and Sarah Heward – The Real Food Café.

We will be featuring Babylon and Lugano reviews in the coming months, and at the Isle of Ely Open Day, where you can try them for yourselves. Email austen@chippychat.co.uk if you would like to try them and/or become one of our ambassadors.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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North West

Anthony Swift (Liverpool) Reliable daily deliveries throughout the North-West Guaranteed quality supplies throughout the year.

Specialist supplier to fish and chip shops

0151 526 5318 aj.swift@live.com

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THE HOME OF QUALITY CHIPPING POTATOES! Mitchell Potatoes (Estab 1883) is proud to be one of the UK’s longest established potato merchants, a record built on quality and reliability.

We serve many of the UK’s best fish and chip shops

The Day of Champions!

Isle of Ely Produce and Chippy Chat are once again opening their doors to chip shop owners and managers

I

sle of Ely Produce and Chippy Chat are once again opening their doors to chip shop owners and managers on Sunday September 12th 2021*! It is one of the industry events of the year, which was unfortunately cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The event starts at 9.30 am at our farm in Ely, Cambridgeshire with a coffee and a chance to talk to industry colleagues. It is invaluable, not only do chip shop owners and staff find out first-

hand how the potato crop is faring for 2022, but they also get an idea about predicted cost and quality of the crop for the year ahead.

Add to that lots of key suppliers will be exhibiting on the day, including Pukka Pies, Middleton Foods, Kerry, Premier 1 Filtration, TQ, Vito, Drywite, Friars Pride, Agrico, Norfisk, McWhinney, Seafood from Norway, BD Signs, Meijer Potatoes UK, ASAP Filtration, Panaepos & Smales. Please email austen@chippychat.co.uk if you

CONSISTENT QUALITY:

Our large supplier base and vigilant quality control helps provide consistent quality all year round.

PUNCTUAL DELIVERIES:

We run a fleet of modern vehicles with 24hr breakdown assistance.

P o t a t o e s

L t d

Contact / Follow Us

01926 633323

www.mitchells-potatoes.co.uk info@mitchells-potatoes.co.uk mitchellspotatoes @mitchellpots 40 Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021 @mitchellpots

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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would like to be a sponsor and/or exhibit on the day.

You will watch presentations on our giant AV, with full staging, from award winning fish and chip shop owners, giving you valuable advice for your shop. Already we have fish and chip award champions The Cod’s Scallops, Drywite YFF Champion Charlie Collins, our own field to frier winners Fish & Chips @ Weston Grove, & Shap Chippy.

We will also have Oliver Boutwood back with his Q&A sessions, plus the chance for you to try Babylon, a new chipping variety from Agrico, and lots of samples and freebies too.

It’s the FREE industry event not to miss!

The event is suitable for all levels of management and also young friers too.

Maximum of 3 tickets per shop. FREE refreshments will also be served We will also be going out in the evening in Ely for an industry dinner. In 2019 over 60 people stayed in Ely for the meal and drinks.

To get tickets email austen@chippychat. co.uk and we will send you a link to the FREE tickets *All will depend on the pandemic. Site will be as safe as needed, and government advice will be followed on the day for your safety.

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Producing Quality Cambridgeshire Potatoes

ProducingMaris Quality Piper - Cambridgeshire Markies - Divaa - Agria Potatoes Maris PiperMarkies – Challenger Our strength–isAgria continuity of supply – Sagitta Call your local wholesaler today

Our strength is continuity of supply ‘Potatoes grown with passion for the more discerning customer’

Contact Isle of Ely Produce, and ask for 00!

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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The Heir-Chip!

WHEN it comes to fish and chips there’s a shop in Worcester which claims to be one of the oldest in the city.

T

he Crispy Cod has been serving customers in Pinkett Street in Northwick for 19 years – and there has been a fish and chip shop in the same place for more than 90 years. That’s about the time the Flying Scotsman first ran between London and Edinburgh, and the Colour television was first demonstrated publicly by John Logie Baird!

Owner Predrag Djuric has been busy over the last few months putting together a history of the shop. And he must be doing something right. Predrag said one of his most memorable moments was when one of their customers told him that they had been visiting the shop for over 50 years: “He thought we had the best fish and chips he’d ever had. I was amazed that he had been coming to the shop for so long and felt proud that he enjoyed what we make.”

As is the norm with long-standing chippies, you know what you are going to get at The Crispy Cod: lightly battered traditional fish and chips! The fish, sustainably sourced from the North Sea, mostly from the seas around Iceland, comes in three varieties: cod, haddock and plaice. On top of that, the chippy also sells sausages, fish cakes, cod roe,

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

vegetarian spring rolls, scampi, chicken nuggets, pasties, pies, burgers (including vegetarian), chicken portions and kebabs, children’s meals and lunchtime specials.

“It’s also been great to meet customers from different parts of the world; we’ve had people in the shop from Germany, Australia, Canada, Spain and the US to name a few.

“In order to mark the occasion, we created a photo display of old photos of the local area. This was with the help of Sheena Payne-Lunn at the Northwick Manor Community Heritage Project and the display is currently hanging up on the wall of the shop.”

The first owner of the shop was Miss Finch who opened the shop using the garden of 1 Pinkett Street. Predrag said: “It’s now coming up to 19 years that we have been here, and we have been immensely proud to be a part of the shop’s history and to follow in the footsteps of the previous owners by serving the community.”

How old is your shop? Email austen@ chippychat.co.uk

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • July 2021

ChippyChat Chat&&Fast FastFood FoodMagazine Magazine••July July2020 2021 Chippy

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