Chippy Chat December 24 by Chippy Chat Magazine

Positive Vibes!

Ceres Managing Director Stelios

Theocharous reflects on a year that has been both challenging and rewarding

2024 has been a challenging one for everyone, but at Ceres, we’ve stayed focused on keeping the industry prepared and supported. We’ve worked hard to remain positive, offering innovative products, and insightful articles and podcasts to keep operators informed, motivated and one step ahead.

High note

Celebrating the pride of Britain

We started the year on a high note by winning the Supplier of the Year Award at the National Fish & Chip Awards. This fantastic accolade was a testament to our team’s hard work and set the tone for the rest of the year.

In September, we proudly returned to visit our friends, The Chelsea Pensioners, at the Royal Hospital Chelsea for National Fish & Chip Day. It was a privilege to serve fish and chips to the brave men and women who have served our country.

We’ve introduced several new products, including Natural Degreaser. The Degreaser packs a powerful punch whilst being kind to your hands and environment. Additionally, we have expanded our Essentials Range, adding practical tools like buckets, brooms and blades to make life behind the frying range easier.

Gluten free success stories

This year, we were thrilled to see more operators move on to our Ceres Gluten Free Batter Mix. Geoff Whitehead, owner of Whiteheads Fish & Chips in Hornsea, East Yorkshire, introduced the product after installing a dedicated gluten free cooking area.

Our online shop now offers even more convenience. With the ability to accept all payment types and new features like pre-ordering for out-of-stock items, we’ve made ordering quick and easy. All come with free next day delivery to keep businesses running smoothly.

Engaging and informing

Our podcast series continues to grow, covering vital topics like potato growing growing conditions, the Autumn Budget and VAT. We launched our Podsquad earlier in the year bringing four more hosts to join me at the table - Mark Petrou, David Miller, Kelly Barnes, and

David Nicolaou. This has enabled us to put out more episodes with even more people while delving deeper into the conversations that matter.

Supporting the trade

This year, we have continued to run competitions to give back to the trade. One example was over £1,000 worth of Ceres Batter Mix won by Martin Robinson of Robinson’s Traditional Fish & Chips in Teesside. He used the prize to offer 15% off back-to-school meals and provide 60 free fish suppers to a local pensioners’ club - proof that our support creates ripple effects of goodwill.

Preparing for 2024

The year ahead will bring its own challenges, with the impact of the Autumn Budget, National Insurance increases and National Minimum Wage rises. We’re committed to helping operators navigate these hurdles by offering promotions, sharing legislative updates and providing inspiration to help businesses keep footfall up. Standing still isn’t an option if you want to be in business this time next year so remember, some progress is better than none. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

Visit the Ceres Online Shop at www. ceres.shop for products, podcasts articles and recipe suggestions.

“As soon as we switched, the comments came thick and fast,” said Geoff. “Our customers could see that we had altered our batter and they all said it was extremely nice.”

Catering to the gluten free market, Geoff has not only satisfied a previously underserved market but also brought in more families and boosted footfall.

Merry Fishmas!

Hereat Chippy Chat, we hope all of our readers and partners have a great Christmas holiday and a Happy New Year. We have lots to look forward to in 2025, The National Fish & Chip Awards, The Q Partnerships Fry It , Innovations & What’s Cooking shows, National Fish & Chip Day, plus of course the Isle of Ely Open day to name a few.

This month’s front-page partner is Friars Pride. Their wonderful trade show Fry It takes place on April 13th 2025 in the Midlands at the NAEC Stoneleigh! Make a date in your diary.

I end the year once again thanking our Chippy Chat partners. We couldn’t achieve all we do without your backing. We are very proud to be the only printed and published monthly magazine in our wonderful sector. All of this takes an enormous effort and without their financial assistance it would be impossible to do.

Please email me austen@chippychat. co.uk with your stories and/or if you wish to advertise.

Thanks, Austen

Chippy Chat Ltd Oak Lane Littleport Ely Cambridgeshire CB6 1RS

www.chippy-chat.co.uk info@chippychat.co.uk Twitter @Chippychat

Facebook Chippy-Chat

TEL 01353 658216 FAX 01353 863 444

Managing Director John Boutwood

Publisher Oliver Boutwood oliver@chippychat.co.uk

Publishing Editor Austen Dack

austen@chippychat.co.uk 07863123929

Design/Editorial

Accounts

Claire Boutwood-Potter accounts@chippychat.co.uk

Advertising Sales and Promotions austen@chippychat.co.uk

For PR and Editorial editorial@chippychat.co.uk

Austen Dack Publishing Editor

Pictures of You!

By Austen Dack

As usual in December we look back to some of the pictures we have featured both in the magazine and online during the course of the year! It’s been a busy year for us at Chippy Chat I have travel thousands of miles across the world in pursuit of the perfect portion of fish and chips! If you have any illustrations (and/or stories) you would like us to use, please email austen@chippychat.co.uk as we will be featuring some again in January 2025.

Diary Dates

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

December 8th 2024

The Chippy Chat Ball

The Chippy Chat Ball is booked in.

ChippyChat ChristmasBall202

February 2nd 2025

VA Whitley – Innovations

The North West’s major FREE exhibition for the Fish & Chip and Fast Food Trade. Go along and touch, taste and try!

26th February 2025

The National Fish & Chip Awards

The National Fish and Chip Award tickets are now on sale, don’t miss out on the fish and chip industry’s premier event! The event will take place at the Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster Bridge, London. Tickets thefishandchipawards.com

FRY I.T. is back, and this time the show will be coming to NAEC Stoneleigh in the Midlands! The exhibition looks forward to showcasing great ways to improve your offerings with the latest innovative products and services for the fish and chip and fast-food sector!

3rd - 9th May 2025

British Pie Week

British Pie Week in 2025. This annual celebration of all things pie-related is a time for pie lovers to share recipes, eat a variety of pies, and come together

18th May 2025

The KFE Ball

Time once again for the KFE Ball. An evening of fun and surprises at the wonderful Belfry hotel. To book or for further information, please e-mail Tanya Henderson at sales@kfeltd.co.uk or call 01778 380448.

6th June 2025

The National Fish & Chip Day

National Fish & Chip Day 2025 - Friday 6th June. The biggest day on the fish & chip calendar –National Fish & Chip Day returns for it’s 10th Anniversary in 2025

September 7th 2025

Isle of Ely/Chippy Chat Open Day

On Sunday February 23rd 2025 the Henry Colbeck exhibition will be held at the Utilita Arena, Newcastle. They’d love you to join them for a FREE day dedicated to the fish and chip and fast food industry.

Isle of Ely Chippy Chat Open Day – September 7th 2025

Join us on the farm to see how the 25/26 potato crop is faring. Great speakers and also free samples and more.

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

GREAT GADUS

The new GADUS has been constructed with great care to ensure high quality products based on the positive feed-back from our UK chip shop customers.

We have over 100 years of fishing experience, and best practice too.

Steps are taken at every juncture of the fishing process to ensure that JFK’s frozen-at-sea products are as fresh as possible. Frozen-at-sea has been called “fresher than fresh,” because within four hours from leaving the sea the fish is processed and frozen, locking in goodness perfect for your customers.

JFK’s purpose is to work in harmony with the environment and to promote sustainable utilization of the fish stocks.

ASK YOUR FISH SUPPLIER FOR FAS GADUS TODAY.

Destiny’s Wild!

Merchants chippy worker Destiny has become an internet celebrity

Apopular chippy in Bewdley has gone viral on TikTok - with one worker being praised as a “diva” and an “icon”. Merchants Fish and Chips, based in Load Street, has seen its social media page grow by more than 200,000 followers over the last month.

The award-winning chippy, overlooking the River Severn, has captured the imagination of the internet with its TikTok videos regularly achieving millions of views. And one worker in particular, the star in most of the clips, has seen her own internet fame grow considerably.

Staff member Destiny has worked at the family-owned chippy since she was 16. Now 20, her overnight success has catapulted her own TikTok page to nearly 200,000 followers.

The slightly-awkward videos of a laidback Destiny serving a ‘customer’ have spawned dozens of edits - with people online labelling her an “icon” and claiming her as their “diva”. Her remarks - such as “hm” and “it does, doesn’t it?” - have become internet catchphrases.

Destiny’s new-found fame even inspired people to dress up as her for Halloween. Merchants owner Antony Akathiotis described his employee as “so lovely”, “very grounded” and a “hard worker”.

The 42-year-old told BirminghamLive: “Mitch behind the camera too - he’s a great guy and has worked hard for this. We’ve had more than 50 million page views in the last 28 days - it’s ridiculous.

“It’s great that Destiny has been recognised. She’s so grounded, which is what I love about her. Whatever comes of

it for her - why not? They both deserve it.”

Anthony has been managing Merchants for over 20 years after taking over the business from his dad. He said the chippy’s popularity is down to its “great products”.

“Bewdley is struggling at the moment because of the flood barriers and they’ve made the bridge one-way, also with business rates and just generally this time of the year,” he added. “So whatever we can do to bring people in, with our videos, is amazing. I want Bewdley to be known worldwide.

“Extra income we get can go back into the town. There’s so much to see and do here.”

Destiny now even has her own merch, with T-shirts that have an illustration of her on the back with the words ‘That looks really good, that’ and a speech bubble of her saying ‘hmmmm, it does!. She even has a partnership with Rimmel due to the success of her videos online. How are you attracting customers online to your shop?

Email austen@chippychat.co.uk

Mackerel Sky - Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire

They say good things stand the test of time and this is certainly true of Frymax which is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Launched in 1954, Frymax remains the same product today and the Fryers favourite cooking oil. Why? Because Frymax is pure white premium palm. It is additive free, contains no hydrogenated oil and less than 1% trans fats. Frymax is failsafe and guarantees great tasting, consistently good results with no deterioration in quality.

It’s Christmas!

If your supplier is a Q Family Partnership member (Friars Pride, Henry Colbeck or VA Whitley), you’ll be counting down to spending your exclusive Save + Select Rewards Club benefits again this year. If you’re not a customer, then why not think about joining us and start accumulating points right away – and next year all your Xmas shopping could be on us!

What Is Save + Select?

It’s our exclusive customer Rewards Club and it’s our way of saying THANK YOU for choosing us as your supplier – we really value your business!

Our Rewards Club is a unique scheme, rewarding the Fish & Chip and Food On The Go Sector – we reward Customers all over the UK with exclusive rewards and benefits.

Henry Colbeck’s Marketing Director

Georgina Colbeck said:

“In 2024 we not only offered our customers another great year of saving points, but we’ve run extra competitions and offers for our VIC’s (Very Important Customers!), including:

• Win a pallet of Hook & Fish Packaging.

• Win a KFE (frying ranges & equipment) Training School Day.

• Save £250 off a Date Code Genie Lite (plus free labels)”

Which Rewards Can You Choose?

• Love2shop Cards or E-Gift Cards.

• Amazon or Sainsbury’s Gift Cards.

• Q Partnership Credit Note Conversion (turn points into pounds to spend with your supplier).

• Fishermen’s Mission Donations – every little means a lot!

• PLUS you can choose to use points for NFFF Membership.

MORE CHOICE FOR CHRISTMAS 2024!

In 2024 the Q Family Partnership have been appointed the UK’s 1st Sustainable Oil Ambassadors by Chester Zoo because we only sell 100% sustainable, segregated, certifiable Palm Oil, are RSPO members and have committed to championing sustainable Palm Oil throughout our industry. So, what

better way than raising the cause with kids big and small through ‘Gifting an Animal Adoption’ or donating to the Hutan Conservation Project.

Send them an adoption pack for an orangutan, a capybara or even a shark, or donate to the Hutan Conservation Project, and you know that the money will be going to a good cause at Chester Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo or The Deep in Hull.

WHAT ABOUT CHRISTMAS 2025?

“We’re always looking for new ways to reward our customers”, said Georgina, “so if you’ve got any good ideas for the rewards you’d like to save for, or if you’re a manufacturer or supplier of goods and services in the industry and you’d like to profile your product through exclusive savings or competitions for our Save + Select Club members, then please get in touch”.

Member Rewards in 2025.

Keep your eyes peeled in January for a range of Save + Select Offers, including National Chip Week Merch and Exhibition Weekend prizes.

Join the Q Partnership at our Exhibitions: You’re Invited & It’s FREE!

Don’t miss 3 amazing days of the Top Foodie Expo’s of 2025!

• VA Whitley – Sunday February 2nd 2025 – Tough Sheet Arena, Bolton.

• Henry Colbeck –Sunday February 23rd 2025 Utilita Arena, Newcastle Upon Tyne.

• Friars Pride – Sunday April 13th 2025 NAEC, Stoneleigh Park.

Scotland’s on Frier!

Scottish Awards Year Two Bigger and Better

Scotland’s finest fish and chip shops were celebrated in style at a glitzy awards event in Glasgow recently. Judges for the Fish and Chip Awards travelled the length and breadth of Scotland, from Dumfries to Shetland, making unannounced visits to sample the fish suppers of entrants. Each shop was evaluated on everything from the quality of their fish to taste, freshness, value, authenticity, innovation, and more.

One of the night’s highlights was a head-to-head live fry-off among the best fish fryers, held just before the evening awards ceremony. The ultimate winner was – Peter’s Fish and Chicken Bar in Dumfries. Other award recipients from across Scotland included Buen Appetito in Clarkston, Barassie Chippy in Troon, Bertie’s in Edinburgh, Frankie’s in Shetland, Carron Fish Bar in Stonehaven, Quintiliani’s in Larkhall, Highland Haddy in Thurso, The Kraken in East Kilbride, Tony’s Chip Shop Shawhead, Valerio’s in Lanark, Vincenzo’s in Stirling, and The Wee Chippy in Anstruther.

The Fish and Chip Awards are organised by Paramount Creative. Paramount’s CEO, Warren Paul, shared, “Each year we celebrate the very best in what has always been the classic takeaway – fish and chips. We bring together entrants from all over Scotland, showcasing those who strive for quality by using top ingredients and going the extra mile to provide the very best food to their customers.

“We evaluate fish and chip shops in tiny villages and bustling cities alike, sending judges to every single entrant, whether they’re just two minutes away from our office or hours away by ferry on a remote island. Our rigorous judging criteria ensure fairness and consistency, giving us full confidence that our winners truly are the best. A win or even a highly recommended nod from us is a seal of approval you can trust – our winners’ success speaks for itself year after year. Try their food for yourself and let us know what you think!”

In usual Chippy chat style on the next page, we document all the night’s winners!

AWARD

Best Chip Shop (South)

WINNER

Alfonso’s

Best Fish Supper (Ayrshire) Barassie Chippy

Best Dine in Restaurant Berties

Best Family Business

Buon Appetito

Best Fish Supper (North-East) Carron Fish Bar

Best Fish Supper (North-West) Deli-Ca-Sea Fish & Chip Shop

Best Chip Shop (East) East Coast Eateries

Best Chip Shop (North) Frankie’s Fish and Chips

Best Team

Garioch Fish Bar

Best Fish Tea Hayston Golf Club

Best Fish Supper (North) Highland Haddy

Best Chip Shop (North-East) McKays Fish & Chip Shop

Best Menu

Quayside Restaurant & Fish Bar

Best Pizza Quintilani’s Larkhall

Best Mobile Fish & Chips

The Angry Seagull Fish & Chips

Best Chip Shop (West) The Kraken Chippy East Kilbride

Best Newcomer The Principal Cafe

Best Chip Shop (Ayrshire) The Principal Cafe

Best Chip Shop (North-West) The Seaforth

Best Fish Supper (East) The Wee Chippy

Best Fish Supper (West) Tony’s Shawhead

Best Customer Service

Valerios Fish & Chips

Best Fish Supper (Central) Vincenzo’s Fish and chips

Best Chip Shop (Central) Vincenzo’s Fish and chips

BEST FISH FRYER PETERS DUMFRIES

The Fish are United!

Two shops team up together to help their community

In 2020 Andreas Kattou and Diamandis Gregoriou were two separate chip shop operators in the same town of Rugby. They decided to join forces over one common cause, giving back to their local community. Fish United was born, handing out free meals to children over the holidays after the then Government decided to stop the handouts.

Fish Plus has always strived to give back to their local community and further afield, having raised and given away hundreds of thousands of pounds over the past 21 years.

As a separate way of giving back, Andreas started Sharing is Caring, this is essentially a pay-it-forward scheme that allows paying customers to purchase food vouchers for anyone who may be in need.

Diamandis saw what a fantastic scheme this was and decided to adopt it into his own shop. Over the last 3 years Fish Plus alone has given away sixteen thousand meals and the numbers are still rising. Every month Fish Plus hands their local food bank 50 food vouchers to ensure families can have access to hot food. “The generosity we have seen from our customers has been phenomenal, without our fantastic customers and community, none of this would even be possible. We are forever grateful.”

In 2022 Andreas’s mum and at-the-

time business partner retired after 19 years of running Fish Plus. Wanting to keep the business a family run Chip Shop, Diamandis and Andreas grabbed the opportunity to not only be partners in Fish United, but in business too, becoming joint owners of Fish Plus in Rugby.

Fish Plus have a long-standing relationship with their local foodbank and Hope4 which is an established charity to enable people to get back on their feet and into accommodation. “Adi Robinson, who is the centre manager of both charities is a vital part of Fish United, always giving up his free time to help us with every event.”

Fish Plus are very grateful to their suppliers who have always helped and been very generous when asked to help when a Fish United event has been on, Central Seafoods, Zan Fish Wholesale, Mitchells Potatoes and Fresko Foods to name a few.

Andreas and Diamandis express their gratitude towards to their volunteers, who over the years have been staff members at both shops, friends and family who have gone above and beyond the call of duty and have been vital to the cause.

There is so much more in the pipeline from Fish United, always thinking up the next charity event. Stay tuned for more exciting things to come. - Andreas and Diamandis

How do you help your local community? Email austen@chippychat.co.uk

HEAT UP SALES with

the NEW

Per Peri Chicken Pie

Bring more customers through chip shop doors with this full-on flavour recipe from the nation’s no.1*

Stock up now through your Pukka representative, wholesaler, or by calling 0116 264 4000

Where Excellence is NorMal! Seafood from Norway’s year with Fish & Chips

As 2024 draws to a close, Seafood from Norway reflects on an incredible year of collaboration with the UK’s iconic fish and chip sector.

From its headline sponsorship of the National Fish and Chip Awards (NF&CA) to hosting an Inspiration Day and an educational trip to Norway, Seafood from Norway’s involvement in the fish and chip sector has been truly memorable.

Proud Headline Sponsor of the National Fish & Chip Awards

The year began with the crowning of the National Fish and Chip Awards winners, organised by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) in February. As headline sponsor of the awards and category sponsor of the Environment and Sustainability Award, Seafood from Norway, along with the wider industry, celebrated this milestone event in the fish and chip calendar, setting the tone for the year and crowning 15 category winners, each earning their place among the industry’s elite.

In early summer, Seafood from Norway supported National Fish and Chip Day, organised by the National Edible Oil Distributor’s Association (NEODA). Coinciding with the UK’s D-Day celebrations, the event brought stakeholders together to commemorate and serve up the nation’s favourite dish.

Seafood from Norway also hosted an Inspiration Day for NF&CA winners and Young Fish Frier of the Year finalists at Westminster Kingsway College and the Norwegian Ambassador’s Residence. The event celebrated their achievements and invited Ambassador Tore Hattrem, Seafood from Norway Chef Ambassador Michel Roux, and NFFF President Andrew Crook to take part, underscoring the strong partnership between Norway and the UK.

Educational Trip of a Lifetime In the summer, Seafood from Norway and the

Norwegian Frozen at Sea group welcomed the NF&CA winners to Norway for an immersive seafood study trip. This once-ina-lifetime experience offered a firsthand look at Norway’s sustainable fishing practices and its rich maritime culture.

Continued collaboration with the iconic fish & chip industry

In November, Seafood from Norway organised one final celebratory initiative for the 2024 NF&CA winners: the Fish & Chip Winners’ Week. Through social media and other engagement activities, the initiative spotlighted their stories and achievements while building excitement for the 2025 awards.

Seafood from Norway is proud to continue as headline sponsor of the 2025 National Fish and Chip Awards, set for February. Among the key categories is the Environmental & Sustainable Business Award, for which Seafood from Norway is the proud category sponsor.

Victoria Braathen, NSC UK Director, commented:

“Responsible practices in the fish and chip industry have never been more important. Seafood from Norway is proud to promote responsibly sourced seafood and support operators making tangible environmental changes. We look forward to working closely with the next category winner.”

Reflecting on 2024, Victoria said:

“Looking back at the year’s highlights, it has been wonderful to follow the industry’s successes and working alongside the operators and stakeholders that make up this iconic industry. As we move into 2025, we’re excited to continue our valued partnerships with industry stakeholders and of course, the many talented operators, distributors, and media championing fish and chips across the UK.”

For more information about sustainably caught cod and haddock from Norway, visit www.seafoodfromnorway.co.uk.

Chippy Chat & Fast

Give Me Five

Five

fish and chip restaurants hope for first place at industry awards

The National Fish & Chip Awards has confirmed the reservation of five fish and chip shop businesses for the finals in its Restaurant of the Year category.

Fish and chip restaurants in County Durham, Devon, Gloucestershire, London, and Tyne and Wear have earned a seat at the table following months of gruelling tasks, interviews and inspections by industry specialists who at next year’s awards ceremony will crown one of them as the best in the sector.

The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) organises the awards and the notoriously comprehensive assessments entrants undertake are vital for unearthing where the opportunities are to set new benchmarks in the industry and to encourage bigger goal setting for those taking part.

Up next for the challengers is the mystery visits portion of the competition, which will be the decider for who will receive the distinguished title. The finalists heading to London where the winning restaurant will be announced on 26 February at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, are:

County Durham

Bells Fish & Chips (Framwellgate Moor), Durham

Devon

Pier Point, Torquay

Gloucestershire

Malt and Anchor, Cirencester

London

Toff’s of Muswell Hill (The Chesterford Group)

Tyne and Wear

Trenchers Spanish City, Whitley Bay

President of the National Federation of Fish Friers Andrew Crook says: “The choice available in the restaurant space means fish and chip operators must pull out all the stops to standout and attract customers. We can safely say that we have found a group of business owners that are very accomplished in doing that and a whole lot more! Our finalists have such detailed focus on product refinement and skills honing that they are creating high-end fish and chips and dining experiences that can’t be denied. What a final Restaurant of the Year is going to be!

From our Family to Yours Wishing all of our customers a very Happy Christmas!

From takeaway treats to perfect Packaging - we have all you want for the festive season and 2025.

Christmas is a fantastic time of the year. We always love to have fun with our Advent Calendar. As we approach the big day both us and our partners would like to wish you and your families well at this festive time. Finally, the team at Chippy Chat would like to wish you all a very New Year! We would like to thank all our readers and partners for helping us in 2024 here’s to 2025!

Austen Dack Chippy Chat Publishing Editor

Jumbo Takes Off!

Blakemans are continually expanding and updating their manufacturing systems throughout their factory to keep up with increasing customer demand. They have recently invested over 2 million pounds on a bespoke, advanced system which collates our most popular product, the frozen Jumbo Sausage, then picks and packs them with efficiency and precision every time without the need of human interaction.

As the industry leading supplier of sausages into the fish & chip industry, Jumbo sausages are produced in vast quantities throughout their 24-hour operation. Whilst the production of these tasty delicacies requires no special treatment, once frozen the length of a jumbo sausage leaves it prone to breakage and in need of great care and vast amounts of manual handling to pack. It was clear to the team that a new packing system was needed to reduce waste, reduce manual handling and maintain the levels of quality that their customers are accustomed to, all within a condensed area.

A partnership was formed between GEA and Valec, two European companies that are experts in their field, they worked together for nearly two years in which they created two parts to a machine that works in unity that uses centrifugal force to collate, then robotic arms to pick and pack into the packaging that is created by the GEA Thermo-former. This system is set up to pack 3000 kilo of Jumbo Sausage per hour, which equates to over 26,000 sausages. On

top of reducing the health and safety risks to staff from manual handling and bolstering their already rigorous food safety standards, the Valec robotics system has also unlocked further versatility in packing options, opening up retail possibilities for Blakemans in the future.

As the demand for, not only Jumbo sausages, but all meat products continue to grow at Blakemans they continue to look into ways of advancing their product development and manufacturing to adapt to customer’s briefs. Now with the help of advancing technology they can modernise production processes with machinery like their most recent investment, the Handtmann FS520 8 Lane Forming System, this versatile machine allows meat products such as burgers, patties, meatballs and many more to be formed to perfection every time.

The system is set up so when the meat mix is passed through it gets moulded into any shape required, holds consistent weight control and has multilane uniformity which increases the hourly volume. This Forming System is capable of forming a wide range of different meat products which opens up the future of possible product expansion at Blakemans and we are excited to see how Blakemans continues to evolve.

For more information on Blakemans...

Contact

James T. Blakeman & Co. Ltd.

Millennium Way, High Carr Business Park

Newcastle - U - Lyme, Staffs ST5 7UF

Tel: 01782 569610

Fax: 01782 569611

E-mail: admin@blakemans.co.uk www.blakemans.co.uk

New Frozen Packing Line in action

Handtmann FS520 8 Lane Forming System with Patties in Production

The Tension Mounts!

Fish and chip shop specials: Takeaway of the Year finalists announced

The 10 finalists for the coveted Takeaway of the Year title have been revealed for the National Fish & Chip Awards

The panel of sector specialists have examined every aspect of the contender businesses making sure the bar is set high when it comes to industry and product expertise, sustainable business practice, environmental engagement, employee responsibility, as well as cooking the best fish and chips.

Over the last few months, the original shortlist of 40 tackled multiple highpressure tasks, challenges and interviews. The lineup was reduced to 20 and now the final 10 will be waiting with bated breath for the mystery visits that will determine the Takeaway of the Year winner, which will be officially announced at the awards ceremony in London on 26 February.

The finalists are:

England

Cornwall

Kellaway’s Fish and Chips, Truro

County Durham

Yarm Road Fish and Chips, Darlington

Nottinghamshire

Angell’s Fisheries, Newark-on-Trent

Yorkshire

The Fish Bank, Sherburn-in-Elmet

Mister C’s, Selby

The Scrap Box, York

Scotland

Aberdeenshire

Redcloak Fish Bar, Stonehaven

Ayrshire

The Fish Works, Largs

Wales

Anglesey

Finney’s Fish and Chips, Benllech

Glamorgan

Zero Plus Fish & Chips, Cardiff

One of these fish and chip shops will follow in the footsteps of 2024 Takeaway of the Year victor, Caerphilly champion Ship Deck, and you can read about Ryan and Kimberly Hughes’ winner’s story. (Pictured)

The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) president and awards organiser, Andrew Crook says: “It’s no secret that when you enter the National Fish & Chip Awards it’s not going to be an easy ride but it’s to ensure as an industry we keep pushing for absolute excellence as a minimum. Customers are at the forefront of what we do so it’s imperative that businesses are serving them to the best of their ability and that’s why we are validating the efforts of this exceptional group which has made it through to the Takeaway of the Year finals.”

Sponsoring Takeaway of the Year is BDSigns, Florigo, Friars Pride, Henry Colbeck, McWhinney’s Sausages, Seafood from Iceland, Smales and V A Whitley.

Get your tickets for the National Fish & Chip Awards at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge before they are ‘sole’ out. https:// thefishandchipawards.com/event-tickets/. For more information on the National Fish & Chip Awards, please visit: www.thefishandchipawards.com.

FRY IT 2025 is landing in Stoneleigh Park Kenilworth!

Proudly brought to you by Friars Pride, our trade show for the Fish & Chip, Takeaway and Food Service Industry, Fry I.T. 2025, takes place at NAEC Stoneleigh, Hall 1 Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth on the 13th of April 2025. The beautiful historic market town of Kenilworth makes for an enchanting backdrop with its profound significance in British history. With such legendary landmarks such as Kenilworth Castle and Kenilworth Abbey, we are delighted to be able to invite you to join us for this exciting event.

What is FRY I.T.?

FRY I.T. is designed with Fish & Chip shops, Takeaways, Pubs & Restaurants, Cafés and caterers of all varieties in mind, and 2025 looks set to be one of best shows ever! Year on year the trade show gets more and more exciting and hotly anticipated offering you the opportunity to meet manufacturers and suppliers to the industry, taste test products before you buy and get yourself up to date with the latest products, developments, and information in the trade.

What you Can Expect

Typically

FRY I.T. trade shows boast an impressive number of returning and new suppliers with over 70 stands and 2025 will see all your favourites ready and raring to go. Anything a Fish & Chip shop could want is all there in one place - we have FAS fish, frozen goods and sauces, packaging, drinks and even frying ranges and Epos systems.

Alongside some incredible exhibitors at FRY I.T., such as Rammi, Pukka Pies, Pacific West Foods, Middleton Foods and Kerry Foodservice, we have the likes of Fry Magazine and Chippy Chat from trade media who bring profound knowledge and pedigree to the event, while NEODA share information about National Fish and Chip Day - a hallmark occasion of our wonderful industry. We also provide great entertainment to keep the children amused, so it is a real family friendly experience, so bring the family.

Friars Pride was founded on the core principle that we are a family company

with the motto “from our family to yours”. Further to that we see our customers as beloved members and Fry I.T. is a wonderful occasion for Friars Pride be reunited with you all face to face.

FRY I.T. 2025 promises to see just as many returning exhibitors and many new faces to show off the latest innovations in the trade.

More Than Just an Exhibition

FRY I.T. never fails to impress, and 2025 will be no exception. We will have incredibly informative Sales representatives dotted across the hall ready and happily willing to answer any of your queries and questions about the products and deals on display.

Don’t miss out on the Drywite equipment shop. The shop, which allows people to buy equipment and items on the day will be a popular attraction on the show floor with many shops getting their hands on new items and pieces of equipment that will most definitely level up their businesses, so make sure to check it out!

Everyone in the Industry Coming Together! The show is perfect if you are the Owner, Manager, or Employee of a Takeaway, Fish & Chip shop or any other catering business! Do not miss out; get your free tickets today and make the most of the exclusive on the day only promotions, free samples, innovations and information that will be available at the show.

All you need to do to register for your tickets is to visit ‘tinyurl.com/fry-it2025-tickets’ or scan the QR code on the page opposite and enter the required details on Eventbrite. Alternatively, you can register by contacting Friars Pride through marketing@friarspride.com or calling 01733 316 400.

We can’t wait to see you at NAEC Stoneleigh, Kenilworth, for FRY I.T. 2025!

Contact Friars Pride

If you require any help with registering for your tickets or if you have any queries, please feel free to contact us. You can email marketing@friarspride. com or contact your Telesales Agent or Area Sales Manager.

New Chips on the Block!

UK’s best new chippies named as finalists for Newcomer of the Year award

Merry Christmas from all at Collins Seafoods!

2024 has been an exciting year for Collins Seafoods!

As well as supplying all our customers throughout the UK and Ireland with sustainably sourced Frozen at Sea cod and haddock, we have been privileged to attend industry events and have picked up an award or two along the way!

In February, we attended the National Fish and Chip awards and saw Ship Deck of Caerphilly, Wales, be crowned Fish and Chip Takeaway of the Year! Bells Fish and Chips scooped 2 awards, the Field to Frier award and the Fish and Chip Restaurant of the Year. It was a great day and an honour to be a part of it.

In May, possibly the most exciting event we were invited to attend in 2024, was the naming ceremony of our brand-new vessel, the Berlin.

Our Managing Director Craig English and Sales and Marketing Executive Elaine Armstrong attended the event, accompanied by Graeme Kennedy of Bells Fish and Chips, Robert Furey of Florigo Ranges and Austen Dack, Editor of Chippy Chat.

MD Craig English said he was “delighted and honoured” to be part of the special ceremony. “This multi-million-pound investment from our parent company Alda Seafood shows the faith that we all have in the UK frying trade and, with the vessel having the most up-to-date production facilities onboard, it means we can offer our customers exactly what they want,” he added.

In June this year, National Fish and Chip Day coincided with the 80th anniversary of D-Day. To celebrate this momentous occasion, we joined forces with one of our customers, Beedles Chippy in Bishop Auckland, to bring fish and chips to the residents of a local care home.

James Beedle and the team kindly cooked and delivered the meals to the residents; they were very gratefully received!

We stayed and chatted to residents and staff for a while as they tucked into the delicious portions of fish and chips and watched the D-Day celebrations on TV.

Most recently in November, Collins Seafoods scooped 2 Awards at the IVECO What Van Daily Mission Awards - the Delivery Award and Livery of the Year!

Jill Saint, our Transport and Operations Manager, and Dawn Archbold, our Accounts Supervisor, attended the ceremony and accepted the awards on behalf of the company.

We were nominated for the Delivery Award by North East Truck and Van. The Livery of the Year Award was voted for on the night and is a testament to the hard work that has gone into creating the design that is displayed on all our vans.

Whilst it has been an eventful year here at Collins Seafoods, we have remained dedicated to what we do best – supplying our customers with the best Frozen at Sea fish the ocean has to offer.

We would like to thank Chippy Chat Magazine for their continued support, and we would like to wish all our valued customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

CONTACT

COLLINS SEAFOODS NORTH EAST:

Unit 2, Park 2000,

Heighington Lane Business Park, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham DL5 6AR

Tel: 01325 315544

Web: www.collinsseafoods.co.uk

Email: sales@collinsseafoods.co.uk

COLLINS SEAFOODS YORKSHIRE:

Unit 2, Felnex Crescent, Cross Green Industrial Estate, Leeds, LS9 0SN

Tel: 0113 2498832

Email: salesyorkshire@collinsseafoods.co.uk

Three - Mob Happy!

Mobile chip shop trio on the road to industry award success

Three of the UK’s best mobile fish and chip businesses are buckling up for an awesome ride as they speed closer towards claiming the Mobile Operator of the Year trophy at the National Fish & Chip Awards 2025.

Following intensive appraisal proceedings, three businesses were successful in overtaking the rest of their competitors having scored favourably in the assessments for their ability to cater for local and outof-town customers, as well as at bespoke events such as festivals, weddings and corporate events, without any deviation on product quality.

The objective of the National Fish & Chip Awards is to ensure the sector is achieving high standards and to embolden business owners and their teams to strive for more in areas such as industry understanding, product knowledge, environmental awareness, sustainable measures, operational approaches and employer responsibilities.

The mobile fish and chip shops that have worked tirelessly to reach the category final are:

Lincolnshire

A Salt ‘n’ Battery, Crowle

Lancashire

Country Fried, Blackburn

Yorkshire Time and Plaice, Doncaster

Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), which organises the awards, says: “There is so much respect and admiration for all the

mobile fish and chip operators out there as working conditions tend to be much more unpredictable than brick-and-mortar outlets.

“They may have to get their vehicle through uneven terrain, a fryer could suddenly pack in when there’s a queue of hungry diners waiting for some delicious food. There are so many anomalies to be ready for, so the pressure is on to deliver whatever the weather and in some cases, this is literal! Our finalists have demonstrated quick-thinking, great leadership and operational innovation that has impressed to no end – may the best van win!”

Sponsoring the Mobile Operator of the Year award is Kerry, a global expert for research and development, consumer insight, innovation and food safety and manufacturing. Its National Account Manager, Alan Pearce comments: “At Kerry we feel this category is unique. The planning skills, preparation and attention to every detail that is required to operate a successful mobile unit are key to providing great service and delicious fish and chips, whether you be catering for a corporate event, your regular village run or a couple’s wedding day.

“We are pleased to be linked with this award category again and its ever-growing importance in the greater fish and chip industry. Good luck to this year’s finalists.”

Don’t stall with securing your tickets for the National Fish & Chip Awards, which are available now at https:// thefishandchipawards.com/event-tickets/. For more information on the National Fish & Chip Awards, please visit: www. thefishandchipawards.com

Pimp My Fried! Award Winning Business for Sale!

Pimp My Fish Ltd, one of the UK’s most innovative mobile fish and chip vendors is now on the market. Awarded Best Mobile Fish & Chips Co 2023 by the National Federation of Fish Fryers, Pimp My Fish offers a distinctive mobile catering model, renowned for its premium, sustainably sourced fish, complemented by homemade sauces and creative side dishes.

The company enjoys three core revenue streams: Community Pitches, Corporate and private Clients, and Partner Collaborations with Street Food Collectives. Additionally, the brand presents a unique opportunity for an entrepreneurial buyer to expand into franchising, a sector where the Pimp My Fish model is poised for growth.

Growth Potential

Pimp My Fish regularly receives requests to attend high-profile festivals and events, such as the Latitude Festival, the Royal Horticultural Show, and the Southampton Boat Show—opportunities that the current owner has chosen to decline. Expanding operations to include additional days (Tuesdays and Sundays) could further increase revenue, though this would require extra staffing. Moreover, franchising the business presents a significant growth avenue for an ambitious buyer, allowing them to scale Pimp My Fish beyond its current operations.

Operating from a well-maintained commercial base in Burwell, Cambridgeshire, the business features a fully equipped high specification kitchen that supports the food preparation for its two mobile vans. The vans serve freshly prepared, high-quality fish and chips alongside a range of other gourmet offerings.

Opportunity

This sale presents a unique opportunity for a savvy entrepreneur or investor to take ownership of Pimp My Fish Ltd and capitalize on its strong brand, loyal customer base, and established reputation. With a proven track record

and accolades like the Best Mobile Fish & Chips Co 2023 award, the business is ideally positioned for expansion. The current demand for events, corporate catering, and street food services remains robust, providing immediate potential for increased revenue by accepting more high-profile festival invitations or extending operating days. Additionally, the prospect of franchising offers a scalable growth path, allowing the buyer to replicate the successful model across other regions and tap into the growing market for high-quality, mobile street food. This is an exceptional chance to acquire a profitable and dynamic business with significant room for growth in the thriving mobile catering industry.

Business-to-business Leasehold

Key Features

Award-Winning: Voted No.1 Mobile Fish & Chip Company in 2023

Sustainable Sourcing: Ethical, environmentally friendly food practices with top-tier ingredients

Innovative Menu: Unique, creative menu positioning Pimp My Fish as a standout in mobile catering

Profitability: A highly profitable, established business, with sales in excess of £520,000

Fleet: Two fully equipped food vans

Pitch Locations: Secured, regular trading pitches

Corporate & Event Services: Tailored menus for private clients and events

Commercial Kitchen: Immaculately maintained and fully equipped preparation areas

Franchise Potential: Significant opportunity to expand the business via franchising

Pimp is on the market for offers in the region of £279,995 + SAV at time of sale. Email austen@chippychat.co.uk if you are interested.

“Mine’s a Double”

Jamie Russo, owner of the Redcloak Fishbar in Stonehaven has been crowned a double winner at the prestigious Fish and Chip awards in London. Not only did Jamie win the Young Fish Frier of the Year award, he also won the Best Newcomer award. This is the first time an entrant has won these two prestigious awards in the same year.

Jamie has also managed to double up with Frymax. Says Jamie “Frymax is our chosen frying medium and we love it. The clean, neutral taste allows the flavours of the potatoes and fish to come through, ensuring the customer gets the true taste of award winning fish and chips

“Having tried other oils, Frymax has proven to last longer, stay fresh for longer and is able to be fried using high temperatures. This really helps us in sealing the food, maximising the taste and minimising the fat content.”

Frymax is pure white premium palm. It is additive free, contains no hydrogenated oil and less than 1% trans fats.

Frymax has been the Friers’ favourite for over 70 years and has not changed during this time.

Out of This World!

(Well the UK)

By Austen Dack

We have featured some great fish and chip shops abroad in 2024. Many of them I have visited myself. Hopefully it helps you to see how other nations interpret our national dish and/or gives you inspiration for new dishes. Here are a few pictures from this year’s featured shops. If you visit a chip shop abroad, please send pictures and a few words to Austen@chippychat.co.uk

FIELD OF DREAMS

Over 120 friers, farmers & suppliers recently travelled to Ely Cambridgeshire for the 10th annual Isle of Ely Produce & Chippy Chat open day.

By Austen Dack

The event put on by John, Oliver and Claire Boutwood at their farm in Ely is hosted by Chippy Chat Publishing Editor Austen Dack. It highlights the journey the potato makes before it hits the shops. It is the culmination of their ‘field to frier’ platform, which this year also included the story of the potato seed too. The day although dedicated to the potato in recent years has taken on the mantle of being a showcase for what’s also best practice in the industry. Some of the best fish and chip shop owners from across the UK presented on the day from a 30-foot impressive AV stage show set up in one of IOE’s potato storage sheds.

Guest speakers on the day included Andrew Crook - NFFF President

NFFF National Fish & Chip Award winners – Ryan Hughes & Graham Kennedy

Oliver Boutwood –Isle of Ely Produce

Josette Foster – with YFF Award winners Jamie Russo, Kieran Bulpit, James Ellams & Glen Morrison

Jogvan Hansen – JFK/Gadus

Mike and Carol Hulme –Finney’s Fish & Chips

Calum Richadson – Forked Up

Our featured farmer this year was once again (Dr) Michael Neaverson from Neaverson Growers Ltd. Michael gave the room an honest assessment of the

potato crop for the year ahead.

For lunch visitors were served fish and chips from the 2023 award winning best mobile Pimp my Fish. The lovely Norwegian cod was supplied by Smales and sponsored by Seafood from Norway. The chips were made from Babylon potatoes and gave the new variety one of its biggest tests yet with over 100 guests all queueing up to try them. Also given away was the new Pukka Pie variety Piri Piri (which was very tasty) and also samples from Gills sausages.

Massive thanks to our sponsors on the day.

Also displaying were stalwarts Drywite, The Q Partnership, Premier Filtration, Agrico UK with their Babylon variety, Pukka Pies BD Signs and Meijer Potato UK.

In the evening over 50 people attended an industry dinner and drinks in Ely. Another chance for shops and suppliers to mingle.

The 2024 Isle of Ely Open Day was once again well received by representatives from across the supply chain right from the seed growers to the friers themselves. Date for the diaries for 2025 is Sunday September 7th. Tickets will be available soon. If you would like to attend as a supplier and/or be a sponsor please contact austen@ chippychat.co.uk

After lunch the group all went via bus first off to a field to see how the 24/25 crop is faring, and then to AL Lee farming company to see how the potatoes are prepared, graded and finally stored.

Exhibitors on the day included two new companies new to the day. First off Stokes sauces were sampling their impressive sauce range. There was much interest in their sachets, perfect for fish and chip shops to sell to their customers. Gills sausages were the other one. Gills sells regionally and were looking to expand to other areas in the UK.

Chip Leaders!

10 businesses named in national awards’ potato category

It’s exciting times for 10 UK fish and chip shops which are off to a great start in the 2025 National Fish & Chip Awards having made the shortlist in the potato category.

The Field to Frier award, salutes businesses with a deep understanding of potato selection and chip preparation – a complex process that requires superb skill to produce outer crunchiness and a fluffy interior for that eyeclosing, chip-eating experience the nation knows and loves.

The most prestigious awards ceremony in the fish and chip industry is overseen by experts who peel back the layers of contender businesses to unearth those which are serving the highest quality food and are setting new standards of all-round greatness in sustainability, environmental approach, employment practice, customer service and more.

The awards are organised by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) and itspresident, Andrew Crook, is rooting for the hopefuls: “Sinking your teeth into a portion of chip shop chips is one of life’s simplest but greatest pleasures, however, the amount of knowledge and care that goes into it is astounding, it’s an art! There’s nothing our most successful entrants this year don’t know about soil environment, potato varieties, seasonal differences, cooking methods, oil selection, the list goes on! The passion they are showing is infectious and we are thrilled for them all.”