Chippy Chat - Feb 24 by Chippy Chat Magazine

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CHIP & WIN!

BABYLON BACKS FISH & CHIP AWARDS - FIELD TO FRIER TOP 3 PAGE 16-17 www.chippychat.co.uk

austen@chippychat.co.uk

TEL 01353 658216

Issue2 Volume 14 February 2024

Just a PIEfect Day! 1

Britz and Fritz Down Under

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Thumbs Up for Fish Kitchen

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

The Golden Touch Beck’s Fish & Chips Still Using Goldensheaf

perating one of the region’s busiest fish and chip shops, Richard Stone has used Goldensheaf Standard Batter since he bought Beck’s Fish & Chips 34 years ago Carbis Bay, a mile from the popular holiday resort of St.Ives, has earned itself the reputation as a British paradise on the Cornish coast with its pristine beach, subtropical plants and clear water. Just a short walk from the golden sands is Beck’s Fish & Chips, one of the busiest fish and chip restaurants and takeaways in the region. During the peak of summer its team of 40 can serve over 1,000 meals a night on its eight-pan high efficiency frying range. Even in the winter, when the 100-seater restaurant is scaled back to just two nights a week, it enjoys a strong local trade, serving up to 400 meals. Apart from a major refurbishment eight

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

years ago when the premises were stripped back and a new frying range installed, owner Richard Stone has kept everything else the same as under the previous owners - family friends who he bought the business from in 1989. This included using Goldensheaf Standard Batter. “Because it was a very successful business before we bought it, we didn’t want to change anything so we stuck with Goldensheaf Standard Batter,” says Richard. “I have tried other batters when people have dropped in samples over the years but, no, we’ve always stuck with Goldensheaf because it is perfect. The batter comes out lovely and crisp and it holds up well whether we are using it in the takeaway or the restaurant. “In 34 years of making batter, I’ve never had any issues at all with the quality. We get the same end result every time. We’ve never thought about changing any of the ingredients like the batter or the fish or the potatoes. You just can’t, because that’s when you start having problems.” As well as cod, haddock, hake and locally caught species of fish, Beck’s sells a large volume of battered products such as halloumi, onions rings and scampi. Utilising Goldensheaf Gluten Free Batter, Beck’s can easily extend these items to coeliac customers. “When we did the refit, we purposely added a pan just for gluten free,” explains Richard. “In the peak of summer, we can do up to 50 gluten free fish and chips a night, but even out of season there’s not a night where we don’t do 20 or 30 gluten free. It’s a big part of our business now and Goldensheaf Gluten Free is quite simply the best batter on the market, we feel.” As well as confidence in the batter, Richard is also reassured by the help the Kerry team have extended to him over the years, adding: “The backup we’ve had from Kerry has been great, there is always help there if we need it.” For more information, please visit www.kerryfoodservice.co.uk. For expert industry advice and to request a sample, you can also call the Frying Squad on 0800 138 1938. Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

GET YOUR FREE TRADE SHOW TICKETS!

veryone

Austen Dack Publishing Editor

finalists for this month’s National

looking forward to attending

Chippy

Chat

Fish and Chip Awards too, as we look

Henry Colbeck’s trade show in

forward to the awards themselves on

Edinburgh. The all-important date for

March 28th in London sponsored by

this annual trade exhibition is Sunday

Seafood from Norway!

3rd March 2024. FREE tickets are available now.

Lots going on in the next few weeks as we help the Q Partnership

Once again, our front-page partner

relaunch National Chip Week, and

is from the new breed Babylon from

the countdown to National Pie Week

Agrico which is making huge strides

begins too.

as a chipping variety in shops across

Th a n k s to a ll con trib utor s &

the UK. We also look at other potato

advertisers. If you would like to feature

providers and breeders in our first

your shop or products, please email

potato feature of 2024!

me at austen@chippychat.co.uk

We also announce the last of the

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

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Chippy ChippyChat Chat& &Fast FastFood FoodMagazine Magazine••February February 2024 2024

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Inside ChipPIE’S Favourite Tuck into piegantic pie week profits with Pukka range

Diary Dates Business or pleasure, dates not to be missed

Plansform Your Shop! Let Centreplan show you how you can increase your sales!

The Champion Chip Leaders! & Chip Award’s Field to Frier Category

Sweet Jane! Lady Jane (and Anna) proving to be hit with chip shop owners

Top of the Pots! Why you should ask for your potatoes from Isle of Ely Produce?

Triple F pre-cut chips! Effficient, Efffective & Afffordable!

Get Your Sales Sizzling! Meadow Vale Foods launches a new range of 6 chargrilled chicken lines.

Fish Kitchen Best Bar None

Quality Street! Chip shop finalists announced for Quality Accreditation Champion award

Very Appealing! Crunch time as 10 chip shops make the Takeaway of the Year final

Curry Favour! Middleton Foods launch new curry sauce fit for a King

Shiny HapPIE People! Nearly Time for Judging at the 2024 National Pie Awards!

What’s Cooking?… We Are! Henry Colbeck’s annual trade show

Pedigree Chum

British Couple excel in Australian Chip Shop!

Spotlight on National Chip Week

Come and join us!

The Chip Leaders! Isle of Ely/Chippy Chat Open Day

38 40

FLAVour of the Month! FlavOil High Oleic - making great strides in

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the Fish & Chip industry

Es 30 tab Ye lish ar ed s

Top 3 off to London for The National Fish

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February 2024

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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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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Frying Range Engineers

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

For prompt, efficient service please call:

01553 772935

sales@klsonline.co.uk Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024 In association with

Frying Ranges

CHIPPIES’ FAVOURITE Tuck into piegantic pie week profits with Pukka range

Contact to place your order NOW - Contact your Pukka representative, wholesaler, or call 0116 264 4000

Social Media Toolkit - To download tips, tricks and FREE assets to entice even more pie-lovers visit pukkapies.co.uk/ foodservice

ukka and the Great British Chippy have gone hand in hand for over 60 years, ever since the nation’s number one pie brand started making and baking pies in 1963. Today, the brand continues to pride itself on its close relationship with the nation’s chip shops. So, with British Pie Week fast-approaching (4th-10th March), Pukka reveals how a diversified line-up of its bestselling British favourites is chippy owners’ ticket to boosting pie week profits. With British Pie Week comes a serious surge in pie sales. And, as the nation’s favourite, it’s fair to say Pukka is best placed to help chip shop owners tap into this. As even more Brits look to tuck into a chippy tea, it’s crucial that outlets are ready to fulfil pie-lovers’ wishes by stocking up on a diverse range of Pukka’s family favourites. Isaac Fisher, Managing Director at Pukka, gives us the scoop on the must-haves for every chippy counter this British Pie Week. “As a longstanding favourite on chip shop menus around the country, Pukka pies should have a place on chippy counters year-round,” says Isaac Fisher, Pukka’s Managing Director. “But, if there’s one recipe chip shop owners need to prioritise to capitalise on sales – especially during British Pie Week – it’s got to be chip shop favourite Steak & Kidney. It’s a classic recipe which has held the number one spot for lots of chippy pie lovers for years, so should always take centre stage.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

“That said, it’s important to remember that not all pie fans share the same favourites. This means it’s all about serving up a selection of recipes so that there’s a Pukka for everyone – from our meat-filled classics like traditional All Steak and Chicken & Mushroom, to our vegetarian Cheese, Leek & Potato and our Vegan pies to make sure vegans, flexitarians and meat reducers can all get a bite of the action.” Beyond encouraging chip shop owners to add variety and excitement to their counters with its bestselling pie line-up, Pukka has cooked up bespoke British Pie Week POS to help drive customers through the door. “To make sure outlet owners have all the tools they need to be social media-savvy, we’ve got a whole host of readymade social posts dedicated to British Pie Week available on our foodservice website. And it doesn’t stop there, we’ve also developed bespoke Pie Week POS to help chip shop owners maximise footfall – and sales in the process,” concludes Fisher.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

4 T H - 1 0 TH M A R C H

MAKE THE UK’S NO.1

Stock up on bestsellers from Pukka this British Pie Week

Contact your Pukka representative, wholesaler, or call 0116 264 4000

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

*Kantar Worldpanel 52 wk hot pie market share data to 03.09.23

Diary Dates

Business or pleasure, dates not to be missed... February 28th 2024 National Fish & Chip Awards 2024 The ceremony for the National Fish and Chip Awards 2024 will take place on the 28th of February 2024, at the Park Plaza in Westminster. Good Luck to all finalists.

March 3rd 2024 What’s Cooking

2024 Henry Colbeck are excited to announce that What’s Cooking? 2024 will be held at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh on the 3rd of March 2024, They hope to see us all there

March 4th-10th 2024 British Pie Week

March 29th 2024 Good Friday The busiest day of the year on the fish & chip calendar

April 21st 2024 National Tea Day Join with us and celebrate National Tea Day. Surely the most British day of the year!

June 6th 2024 National Fish & Chip Day Neoda’s National Fish & Chip Day is about giving fish and chips the recognition it deserves and helping to secure its position as the nation’s favourite dish.

June 9th 2024 T.Quality Fish Frying & Fast Food The popular T.Quality Fish Frying & Fast Food Trade Show is returning to the legendary Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, Surrey,

Pie Week falls in the first week of March. Pies have been in existence since about 2000 B.C. and have been loved by the British since the 12th century.

September 15th 2024

Isle of Ely/Chippy Chat Open Day Join us on the farm for a day of networking and discovering all things potato! Free tickets contact austen@chippychat.co.uk

MARTYN EDWARDS FRANK FORD KIREMKO (KFE) HENRY NUTTALL SCOTRANGE

The Chippy Chat Ball is booked in.

Chat py ll 2 024

The Chippy Chat Ball

Chi p

December 8th 2024

Ch ristmas Ba

EDEN RANGE 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

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Plansform Your Shop! Let Centreplan show you how you can increase your sales!

been completed, Centreplan will prepare a floorplan showing the general layout, which then leads to discussions, fine tuning, and ultimately an agreed design ready to go! They have recently completed a project in the Midlands called “ Beks” The shop used to be an old optician, with fittings dating back many years. The task was to strip out the old, and to completely re-design and fitout the premises. After preparing plans and a detailed design brief with the clients, they created an amazing fast food operation that would hold its own against any other high street brand. Dean Haynes owner of Beks Aldridge said: “The service from the very start was great, we arranged a site visit, & from that moment it was such an enjoyable experience. Each step of the way I was invited to see the project to see the progress they had made. They were very easy to talk to and the team was always on hand to help. The end result was fantastic, to budget and on time. I will be using Centreplan on my next project.” If you are looking for a refurb, an update or help with how you can optimise sales in the space you have please call Centreplan on 07973 187 081 or email them on sales@centreplan. com. For further case studies visit www. centreplan.com. Your plans maybe a year or two ahead but it is always worth planning early, and Centreplan can help you with that.

hippy Chat is proud to announce a new partnership with Centreplan. They specialise in bringing new life and ideas into takeaways/restaurants, which can often lead to a growth of over 30% in revenue. Centreplan have been at the forefront of design and shopfitting for over 30 years, predominantly working within the fast food and leisure industry, Project management creating some amazing fitouts, breathing new life into premises all over the UK and making us proud to be recognised as one of the leaders in its field. Many of you would have seen their stunning display in the KFE showrooms. A Ce n t re p l a n s h o p re f i t w i l l transform the shopping experience at the heart of your restaurant/takeaway. They pride themselves on innovative designs, high end workmanship, and an attention to detail that they feel is second to none. Their portfolio of fit-outs and design and planning proves our pedigree, with many of our clients Bek’s Kitchen Area seeing amazing results when the doors re-open, showing off the new vibrant and impactful image that has been created for them, and most Signage of all watching our clients reap the rewards of their investment. Refurbishing your premises takes hours of careful planning to create a design / concept that is going to give business the Centreplan optimum impact, ars experience within the fastyour food sector, have designed and refurbished that’s why they follow a stringent od outlets nationwide, ranging from local chip shops to 300 cover restaurants. process, and evaluate everything about your business from head to ompletion, we’re with you all the way. New facia Bek’s toe, making sure the vision becomes a reality. The first step towards your new image is to provide an in-depth survey of the site. This enables us to take a close look at the structure of the property, and to investigate any possible changes that may be required to main services, i.e Gas, Electric, Water, & Drainage, all crucial aspects of the day to day running of your business. Once the survey has Before Bek’s

turnover, invest in a quality refurbishment

sform your business. Contact us on 214 / 07973 187081 .centreplan.com 10

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

shopfitting designed around you

Full design service

Planning approvals

Project management

Signage

Increase your turnover, invest in a quality refurbishment With almost 30 years experience within the fast food sector, Centreplan have designed and refurbished a wealth of fast food outlets nationwide, ranging from local chip shops to 300 cover restaurants. From concept to completion, we’re with you all the way.

Let us transform your business. Contact us on 01386 462214 / 07973 187081 or visit www.centreplan.com 11

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

The Champion Chip Leaders! Top 3 off to London for The National Fish & Chip Award’s Field to Frier Category By Austen Dack

he National Fish and Chip Awards had recently named the top 10 finalists for its Field to Frier category, it has since undergone two more rounds and been whittled down to just three. The Field to Frier category is sponsored by Isle of Ely Produce, who are responsible for supplying over 2 million bags of potatoes into the fish and chip industry every year. They have been joined once again this year as an award partner once again by Agrico UK variety Babylon. Babylon is a relatively new variety that has been trialled at fish and chip shops across the UK with great success over the last two years. The top three businesses shortlisted are: Bells Fish & Chips Durham Finney’s Fish and Chips, Benllech Ship Deck, Caerphilly We luck forward to seeing all three shops in London next month and handing over the winner’s baton from The Real Food

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Café in Tyndrum on the day. Alex Moore Sales Manager for Agrico said: “We have been working with Isle of Ely and Chippy Chat to champion best practice in regard to new varieties. Babylon is one variety which has already tested well in chippies across the UK. We are thrilled to be a co-sponsor once again of the Field to Frier Award at the 2024 National Fish & Chip Awards and wish all of the three shops the best of luck. We also look forward to working with all of the Top Ten shops and sending them some Babylon to trial.” Commenting on the news, Andrew Crook, President at the NFFF, comments “We received such a high standard of applications this year, many have come from their attendance at the annual Isle of Ely Open Day where they learn so much about how to choose, store and fry potatoes so we’re thrilled to see so many were shortlisted from across the country, and now the final 3. Congratulations & good luck to everyone involved!” Isle of Ely Director Oliver Boutwood Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

said: “This award is crucial for us to help educate shops on the basics of how to get the most from their potato supplies. Knowing about which varieties suit them best (this changes by geographic area), how to store and treat the potatoes and also making the best chips from what is available at every given time will help us all to serve great chips every time.” The National Fish & Chip Awards are hosted by The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), on the 28th of February 2024 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge. Seafood from Norway are the overall sponsor of the awards. They will be presented by TV presenter and comic Rob Beckett. Rob burst onto the comedy circuit 15 years ago and hasn’t looked back since. As well as appearing in ITV’s Paul Sinha’s TV Showdown, Rob can also be seen alongside fellow comedian and best mate Romesh Ranganathan in Rob and Romesh Vs and as the unmistakable voice of Celebs Go Dating. In 2019 Rob cohost The Royal Variety Performance with Romesh, the first time two comedians had hosted the event together in over 30 years. Austen Dack Chippy Chat Publishing Editor will present the award alongside Alex Moore. Austen said:” We have had some great champions of this award over the years, and this year’s top three is as strong as I have seen. Also, it has been amazing to link up with Babylon chipping potatoes to highlight the importance of the potato at these awards.” For further information on the National Fish and Chip Awards 2024 including how to buy tickets, please visit: www. thefishandchipawards.com About the Awards The National Fish and Chip Awards is the largest UK-wide event dedicated to raising standards across the industry whilst supporting fish and chip related businesses. For more than 30 years, the awards have celebrated the nation’s favourite dish, while championing the eclectic eateries that hold up this loved British tradition 13

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Sweet Jane! Lady Jane (and Anna) proving to be hit with chip shop owners By Terry Jones Meijer Potato UK Sales Manager

lthough the UK is currently in the middle of a spell of freezing weather and with snow on the ground in the North West as I write this, the planting of ‘new potato’ crops has already begun in the earliest parts of Cornwall and we have been delivering seed potatoes for 8 weeks already. We have the quite bizarre situation where growers are planting but still have some of last year’s crop in the ground. Since many of us enjoyed the hot autumn sun at the IOE Open Day last September, the weather has been a constant thorn in the side of potato growers, and despite their best efforts some crops were lost to flooding and waste levels in stores are higher than usual. Unwanted pressure on the availability of potatoes and we hope things will not be too severe for the remainder of the storage window! Despite these difficult times we are very happy to see continued development of our range of chipping varieties. Lady Anna is receiving exceptional feedback from merchants and shops for its reliable fry, low waste levels and great taste. As well as many years of supporting an established ware supply chain in the Midlands, we are now getting calls to produce more volume in many other parts of the UK and Ireland. Lady Jane is our latest introduction after some superb comments from our own trials and also from the many visitors to our stand at FryIt 2023, it’s all systems

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

go for increased production. It’s versatile – we produce Lady Jane for crisping and industrial chip markets as well as its strong suitability for fresh chips. Also it’s truly sustainable – it can be grown using less fertilizer, needs less seed per acre and it’s strong resistance to potato blight allows growers to take a greener approach to the way they grow the crop. With these ‘environment friendly’ credentials and multiple crop markets as well as the fantastic taste, it’s clear why we will now launch a Lady Jane marketing campaign headed ‘A world of possibilities’. Look out for more news updates in the year ahead! If you can’t wait that long to try Lady Jane, Meijer Potato will be making our first ever trade show appearance in Scotland – What’s Cooking 2024. This will be held at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh on Sunday March 3rd. We will be cooking up samples of Lady Jane for you to taste, and also a limited amount of prepared chip samples will be available for you to take away. We can’t wait to see you all there!

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

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

Lady Anna Great taste, less waste, premium fries

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

Lady Jane Yellow fleshed, delicious flavour, maintains a good colour after cooking.

Bayfield Brecks Barns, Garden Lane info@meijerpotato.co.uk Letheringsett, Holt, Norfolk, www.meijerpotato.co.uk NR25 7DZ  Tel: 01263 710602 Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024 Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Top of the Pots! Why you should ask for your potatoes from Isle of Ely Produce?

By Austen Dack

sle of Ely Produce is a family-owned business, ran by the Boutwood family (John, Oliver & Claire) since 1994 however their involvement in the potato industry stretches back even further, with over 50 years of experience. The founders are passionate about the business and although long established, still have plans for continued innovation, environmental development, and growth. Over the last ten years they have developed one of the biggest marketing platforms within the fish and chip industry. Called Field to Frier they have carefully nurtured every aspect of the supply chain all the way from the seed potato to the consumer. Oliver Boutwood Isle of Ely director enthuses “From Field to frier” is a collaboration between seed developers, farmers, merchants, fish friers and ultimately the chip shops customers. We have invested lots of time and effort into educating our sector.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

IOE supply potatoes to multiple sectors including markets, restaurants and takeaways through wholesalers and merchants. One of the principal marketplaces is the fish and chip sector. We place over 2 million bags of potatoes into fish and chip shops a year. We market/promote some of the biggest chipping potato farmers, varieties, and brands in the UK. What we wanted to do was to get closer to the end user, the customers of the nation’s 10,000 fish and chip shops. First, we became an associate member of the National Federation of Fish Friers and started to attend their meetings in Leeds. Then we looked at setting up a platform linking the whole supply chain. Teaching the chip shop owners best practice and giving farmers an idea of what it takes to run a fish and chip shop. From there Isle of Ely invested into sponsorship of the National Fish and Chip Awards. A Seafish awards programme, where never before had there been an award levelled at chipping potato knowledge. Winners had to show care in storage conditions, variety choice, seasons, stacking and of course frying the ultimate chip. In this the eleventh year (now under the wing of the NFFF) of the award we can look back on many brilliant winners all advocates of empowering this knowledge During the early days IOE also purchased Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

a fish and chip publication Chippy Chat which I have gone on to publish over 120 issues to date. This again would give potatoes (merchants, farmers, seed producers etc) a massive voice at the sharp end. It also has given us the chance to understand the whole sector and get involved with many other projects. Chippy Chat allows Isle of Ely Produce to educate a whole sector with ongoing issues such as climate change, suppressants, prices and more. It has created a whole new marketing platform for farmers, growers and shop owners. As part of the Field to Frier platform, the firm also has an annual open day. It gives the industry a chance to meet over 100 chip shop owners each year, and indeed farmers to welcome them to their fields, sheds and equipment. It shows shops the investment needed just to get a crop into their shops. We show presentations on the day at Isle of Ely’s farm via a £6,000 AV stage set. To this event we attract seed houses, farmers, suppliers to chip shops and more. To date over 1000 people have visited our farm to these open days. John Boutwood, Managing Director, is proud to say that Isle of Ely Produce is a local, Fenland business that operates nationally and internationally. “Our personal touch is supported by significant resource, expertise and reputation. We are proud of our marketing platform and relationships we hold across the chipping industry.” Your customers are looking for providence and sustainability when buying foods of all types. We can trace your potatoes all the way from seed to frier! Our state-of-the-art facilities have also been carefully designed for the storage of potatoes. We have invested heavily in improving our storage and handling facilities by doubling the size of our Cambridgeshire site giving us an 17

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

extensive set down space. Our integrated management system provides 100% traceability on all produce received and dispatched. If you would like to be part of Isle of Ely Produce’s success story, then we would love to hear from you. We would be delighted to hear from potato retailers, restaurants, take aways and growers. We were a proud winner of the Marketing Award at the British Potato Awards and were also in the Top Five Suppliers Award at last year’s National Fish and Chip Awards Ask your potato merchant for Isle of Ely sourced potatoes today. We have a massive choice of varieties available, from over 200 growers (bagged or preprepped) to offer to shops across the UK. Feel free to call us or get in touch to see if we can help. 01353 863355. www.isleofely.co.uk www.chippychat.co.uk

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Effficient, Efffective & Afffordable! Why you should try Triple F pre-cut chips!

stablished in 2005, Fylde Fresh and Fabulous has fast become one of the UK’s leading processed potato, vegetable, and chip suppliers thanks to our expertise in the field. In those early days, the Fylde Fresh and Fabulous team recognised the lack of consistency in the supply chain for manufacturers and food service operators and addressed this issue by establishing a unique potato growing programme. The result from this was a high-quality product for customers that provided a platform on which Fylde Fresh and Fabulous could build for the future. Recent Expansion In late 2022 Fylde Fresh and Fabulous took a significant stride in our growth journey through the acquisition of the Troy Foods Vegetable business in Leeds. With the integration of the Royds Farm site, FFF can now offer supply of a much wider selection of vegetables in addition to offering greater contingency for our Potato & Chip customers. Powered by potatoes! Processing over 1000 tonnes of vegetables each week, the peelings generated through this process are used in our very own bio-gas plant! Vegetable peelings, balanced with whole crop silage

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

and animal manure, produce sufficient gas to generate up to 1800KWe per hour of both thermal heat and electricity. This energy is used to power and heat our Preston site with the remaining exported back to the National Grid supplying enough power to run over 1000 homes in the local community. Triple F Chips remain at the heart of all we do. Since the start of Fylde Fresh & Fabulous way back in 2005 we have supplied chip shops throughout the country with fresh chips and this supply remains very much at the heart of our business today. We grow more than 15,000tn of potatoes each year and select the finest quality and best tasting, UK grown Red Tactor approved potatoes when producing our chips through our BRC accredited facilities. Every batch of Triple F Chips undergoes rigorous quality checks prior to leaving site, ensuing we offer consistent quality, tasty frying chips, day in day out. Partnering with a broad network of distributors allows for us to supply you with our freshly prepared and cut chips, wherever you are in the UK. We have recently also made it even easier to order our chips having opened our own online shop to service customers in areas where we continue to expand our distributor network. If you would be interested in finding out more about FFF, partnering with us as a distributor or would like to discuss your fresh chip requirements in more detail please contact our sales team directly on 0113 5136875. Email sales@fyldefreshandfabulous.com / www.fyldefreshandfabulous.com

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Get Your Sales Sizzling! Meadow Vale Foods launches a brand-new range of 6 chargrilled chicken lines. The Sizzling Chicken range is the next generation of added value frozen poultry.

eaturing 6 new lines of hand cut and boneless chargrilled fillets, thighs and skewers, the Sizzling Range is bursting with flavour and offers the ultimate uncoated chicken option for menus across the food service industry. Grilled chicken is growing in popularity, particularly for those with special dietary requirements and the health conscious. The Sizzling range therefore allows you to grow sales by creating a balanced menu with a seriously tasty uncoated option that appeals to wider audiences. Less fats, less salts and packed with protein, here’s an in depth look into the three cuts on offer from this groundbreaking new chicken range. The Sizzling Chicken Thigh range With three authentic flavours to choose from including Original, Shawarma and Piri Piri, the Sizzling thighs are 120g of succulent boneless chicken that are a perfect fit for a wide variety of dishes straight from the freezer, from the wholesome Shawarma wrap to the piquant Piri Piri rice box. Shawarma and Piri Piri flavours are trending on high streets across Britain, reflected in some of the largest high street food outlets including German Doner Kebab and Nandos. Shawarma boasts a traditional well-seasoned flavour that compliments the succulent thigh perfectly, and Peri-Peri is a flavour profile synonymous with chicken thighs.

sealed bags 13 pieces at a time. Meadow Vale is the one stop shop for those seeking the perfect grilled chicken burger option. The chargrilled fillets offer a consistent large bun coverage due to the 150g hand-butterflied portion sizes, that also provide a rustic home-made feel. The flavour is all in the chicken, simply add any salads, sauces and garnishes to create a vibrant tower of burger brilliance. Alternatively, the fillets can be sliced into visually appealing strips or bite size pieces and added to a wide variety of great tasting dishes. The Sizzling Original Chargrilled Chicken Skewers Marinated for 20 hours in an authentic blend of herbs and spices, the Sizzling Chicken Skewers provide a chargrilled flavour to savour. Using just one Chicken Skewer can create the perfect kebab, wrap or gyros by reheating straight from the freezer via the griddle, Merry Chef or oven. Once cooked, the chicken easily slips off the uncharred bamboo sticks straight on to the plate, providing the ultimate fresh chargrilled experience. Each bag holds ten skewers, with the flavours locked in to the vibrant foil packaging. Experience a 100% yield with zero waste by simply taking what is needed from the freezer over a long shelf-life period, without compromising the quality, taste or fresh appeal of the chicken.

The Sizzling Chicken Fillet range The Sizzling Original and Piri Piri Chicken Fillets truly offer a product for all purposes in food service, from the ultimate chicken burger to chicken salads. These 150g chargrilled chicken fillets are hand butterflied, marinated and charcoal grilled before being individually quick frozen and placed into foil 20

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Enquire today! To find out more details and receive support with product information, pricing, marketing and much more, get in touch with our friendly team today by contacting 019786 66100 or fill out the contact form at www.meadowvalefoods.co.uk Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Best Bar Dynamic Duo Open Second Site

By Austen Dack

resh off their success in the UK National Fish & Chips Awards 2023, where they were recognised as the best in Wales and 2nd place in the whole of the UK, the owners of Fish Kitchen 1854 Lee and Sam Humphreys have launched a new fish & chip restaurant in Bargoed. Fish Kitchen 1854 (their first shop) was named as such in recognition of the local heritage of Maesycwmmer and the opening of the viaduct just a stone’s throw from the fish & chip shop. The new fish & chip restaurant in Bargoed follows a similar theme and is called Fish Kitchen 1931, taking the date from when the very first fish & chip shop, Conti, opened on the site in 1931. They have created a fantastic, themed experience for visitors celebrating the local heritage and the coalmines that once lay everywhere around the

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

South Wales valleys. The restaurant has undergone a complete refurbishment with a new mezzanine floor created above the kitchen. The restaurant area has table booths, designed in theme of a viaduct, with each one being named after the local coalmines. The history of the town is also celebrated with each having screens regaling the heritage and history of the area. Plans are in place to make it a ‘must visit’ destination offering quality, value for money and a fun experience. Lee is very much looking forward to highlighting what Bargoed has to offer, with plans to provide more than the traditional fayre most fish and chip shops have. To help them Fish Kitchen 1931 received two grants from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. They also received a further grant from

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

None! Caerphilly Enterprise Fund and a grant from the Transforming Towns Fund. The new venture has created between 20 and 30 jobs in various roles throughout the business and they work closely with local suppliers and businesses helping to create even more. Particular attention was spent to using and resourcing local businesses and tradespeople to undertake the refurbishment. Located on Upper High Street in Bargoed Fish Kitchen 1931 also has a very special meaning to Lee as his late father, Gary Humphreys, used to go to the same chippy as a child with his mother. In a touching tribute Lee said he is doing it ‘to make his father proud.’ Lee said: “I lost my father in April this year, he was the driving force behind it all and he was only 67. He was an old school miner. “I took him to the second site, and he

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

just stood there in awe. My dad’s mum died when he was 10 and he used to sit in that chippy with him mum. This is one of the huge motivations behind buying it.” A Bargoed local herself Sam called the opening a ‘privilege’ and said it will be ‘fantastic to celebrate the towns local industrial history.’ “It’s fantastic to be able to celebrate what has been done to the original building and celebrate our local industrial history with our amazing community and customers far and wide. We welcome everyone to Fish Kitchen 1931, Bargoed; to enjoy a historic fish and chip experience.’ Sam said: “It’s been one heck of a journey to get us to where we are today. What started out as a quick refurb, turned into something significantly challenging but we’ve got there.” fishkitchen1931.co.uk

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Quality Street! Chip shop finalists announced for Quality Accreditation Champion award

he National Fish and Chip Awards is today announcing three UK chip shops as the frontrunners to claim the Quality Accreditation Champion title at this month’s awards. To be in with a chance of claiming the prestigious accolade, businesses first had to enrol in the National Federation of Fish Friers’ Fish & Chip Quality Accreditation Scheme. In partnership with Sarson’s, applicants are appraised against quality benchmarks, with those successfully passing the assessment and the crispy batter-crunchy-but-fluffy chip taste tests receiving the ‘Big Q’ Quality Accreditation sign. With many fish and chip businesses participating in the initiative, the Quality Accreditation Champion award is a golden opportunity to spotlight those which excel in serving customers the best quality fish and chips in a clean, hygienic, and safe environment. This year’s first-rate food finalists invited to London for the hot-ticket industry ceremony on 28 February at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, are:

finalists are sourcing fish from sustainable stock to reduce the environmental impact, owners and staff are showcasing great professionalism towards each other and customers, with fantastic tasting fish and chips completing the overall experience. An unprecedented amount of work goes into maintaining these high levels of practice, so we congratulate the three businesses wholeheartedly.” Sarson’s, the perfect vinegar partner for chips, and its parent company Mizkan, a global producer of chutneys, relishes, pickled vegetables and vinegars, are sponsoring the category. Anant Mathur, channel controller at Mizkan, says: “We are proud of our iconic Sarson’s vinegar and its integral position within the fish and chip industry. Sarson’s continues to be the trusted vinegar partner with every portion served by our quality British chippies.” For more information and bits on the National Fish and Chip Awards, please visit: www.thefishandchipawards.com.

Norfolk French’s Fish Shop, Wells-next-the-Sea

Essex Henley’s of Wivenhoe, Wivenhoe

Hampshire Mike’s Traditional Fish & Chips, Bishopstoke President of the National Federation of Fish Friers, and organiser of the awards, Andrew Crook, says: “The National Fish and Chip Awards is an important part of the industry to help facilitate improvements in standards across the board. “The Quality Accreditation Champion category really is the best of the best. Our 24

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

About Sarson’s: Sarson’s is a craft brewed vinegar, created in 1794 by Thomas Sarson and has become a fish & chip shop icon. Over 200 years later, we still make vinegar using the same unique, traditional methods. Brewed from British malt and fermented with larch wood wool from Wales. Unlike so many other vinegars – it is matured in wooden vats for seven days. This gives the rich malty and tangy flavours unmistakably belonging to Sarson’s. A perfect accompaniment for your fish & chips. Even in the challenging world in which we live today, we still see the uncompromising importance you place on quality of flavours for your customers. www.sarsons.co.uk Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Very APPealing! The importance of having your own takeaway app!

By Jason Bailey Panaepos

he race is on, the next couple of years will be important for independent takeaways to avoid becoming reliant on the main takeaway platforms, Just Eat, Uber Eats and Deliveroo. As these three companies reported a massive surge in growth throughout lockdown, takeaways across the country saw a big increase in their costs but it was necessary to continue to trade. Fast forward to today, consumers have changed their buying habits and it looks like online ordering is here to stay, so takeaway businesses are looking to the future. What the options are to retain their customers and avoid paying huge amounts in commission to takeaway platforms? We believe the answer is having your own app and these are the reason why. Retention of customer data Knowing who is buying from you, what they are buying and when can help you adapt to the ever-changing world of consumer trends, helping you to understand what your best sellers are and promoting the slow-moving products out of stock to reduce loss. Possessing the customer data also gives you a direct line of communication with your customer, so when you want to promote an offer or new product, you can easily. Control what prices you sell your food for online Just Eat recently contacted customers to tell them that the sale price of the items which are on their online menu must be the same as the prices you sell it for in the shop. This created upset for the shops which have different prices online in order to cover the costs of the commission rather than eating in to their own profit. With your own app, you can choose your own prices, however with monthly subscriptions like £29.95 +vat for you own app, you won’t need to increase them to cover costs. Direct and instant marketing

to your customers, a downloadable app in the app store will help by allowing you to send notifications direct to their phone with ‘in the moment’ offers. Using the right takeaway software which generates the voucher codes for you will give you the added ability of understanding if the offers have worked by keeping data on how many times the code has been redeemed. Create loyalty offers for your customers Most apps have the ability to be able to create a loyalty scheme for your customers to collect and redeem points. Couple it with a till system which integrates and the points can be collected and redeemed in the shop as well. Businesses which have introduced loyalty schemes to their business have seen as much as a 25% increase in profit, reduced customer churn and consequently the cost and time involved in acquiring new customers. Link with stock Using an online web ordering process which links to your tills can also help you manage your stock more efficiently No huge commissions and monthly costs How much are you getting charged on a monthly basis to sell through a third party, £100’s? £1000’s? There’s a reason why one well know takeaway platform grossed over €3 billion in revenue during 2022. Many stand alone apps charge as little as £30 +vat per month with standard card transaction fees. The savings for the smaller business are so important under current market conditions. Stand out in the crowd The ability to bespoke your own app helps you raise your head above the pulpit. Rather than being just another name on the list of ‘takeaways nearby’ it keeps your brand out there. If you would like further advice please feel free to call Jason Bailey at PanaEpos on 01692 404949 or email jason@ panaepos.com.

If you want to give instant offers direct 26

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

from only

£6.90+VAT per week.

Allow customers to browse your menu at their fingertips and place orders from their table or the comfort of their home. Engage your customers via push notifications and simplify the management of comprehensive loyalty schemes.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Gold Partner 27

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024 2023

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Curry Favour! Middleton Foods launch new curry sauce fit for a King

s the UK’s leading manufacturer of chip shop ingredients, Middleton Foods, is proud to introduce another quality product to its Kings Heritage range, with the addition of its new Kings Heritage Premium Curry Sauce! Kings Heritage Premium Curry Sauce is a delicious sweet and savoury blend, with a well-balanced spice profile and a warm back note. It’s a truly mouthwatering new addition to Middleton Foods’ current product portfolio of best-selling curry sauce mixes. Speaking about the launch of its new product, Ryan Baker, Sales Manager, Middleton Foods says: “We’re thrilled to be adding Kings Heritage Premium Curry Sauce to our extensive collection of curry pre-mixes. A staple offering in fish and chip shops across the UK, this harmonious sweet and savoury mix offers well-balanced layers of

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

classic spices, finishing with a warm back note. For chippy owners looking for that traditional curry sauce to go alongside their chip shop offerings… heir it is!” Ensuring quality and consistency timeafter-time, this premium curry sauce is quick and easy to produce in volume. Simply add cold water! Combine 250g of powder to 1 litre of water to produce a perfectly smooth, authentic tasting curry sauce that packs a punch. Kings Heritage Premium Curry Sauce is available in 5kg tubs and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Middleton Foods is a family owned and operated business. To find out more and to discover its comprehensive range of mixes, glazes, seasonings, batters, gravies, and coatings; please call +44 (0)1902 608122 or visit www. middletonfoods.com.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Island Range in the Stream! Grab your stetson, put on your cowboy boots and giddy up as the KFE team take y’all to the Wild West for this year’s KFE Annual Ball

he country and western-themed hoedown will take place on Sunday 12th May at The Belfry Resort & Spa in Sutton Coldfield, where guests can wet their whistle while enjoying incredible food served in the company of industry friends and family. A live band will keep guests entertained while the widely acclaimed Dolly Parton and Friends tribute show The Country Superstars are sure to have everyone two-stepping across the dance floor.

£80 per person. If you book your accommodation directly with KFE, you can take advantage of our special price of £142 bed and breakfast for a double room on Sunday. The price of a double room on Saturday is £165. To book or for further information, please e-mail Tanya Henderson at sales@kfeltd.co.uk or call KFE on 01778 380448

KFE Golf Tournament On the morning of the ball, the KFE Golf Tournament will once again tee off on the majestic fairways and carpet-smooth greens of the world-renowned Brabazon course. Its meticulous design involves tight fairways, perilous bunkers, lakes and fast undulating greens, creating iconic holes that have challenged some of the game’s greatest at four Ryder Cups. Priced at just £130 per person. Mini Golf Beginners and those just wanting to play for fun are welcome to join us on the Ryder Legends Mini Golf course, 12 miniature versions of some of the most iconic holes in Ryder Cup history. Book your free place now for the chance to win a bottle of Champagne. Commenting on the ball, KFE managing director Paul Williams, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the KFE Annual Ball again this year where we have put a wild west slant on the occasion. It is the perfect opportunity to meet up with like-minded individuals, expand your professional network, and have a great time while doing so. Put on your best bib and tucker and we’ll meet you in the saloon for an unforgettable evening – yeehaw!” Tickets to the KFE Annual Ball are 31

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

AND ENJOY THE RIDE

ANNUAL BALL SUNDAY 12TH MAY 2024 THEChippy BELFRY RESORT AND SPA,,SUTTON COLDFIELD 31 Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Shiny HapPie People! Nearly Time for Judging at the 2024 National Pie Awards! By Austen Dack

t is soon once again to represent the Fish & Chip industry alongside NFFF President Andrew Crook to judge at the National Pie Awards, held annually in Melton Mowbray. The supreme champion (or ‘Pie of Pies’) in 2023 was Brockleby’s Moo & Blue Pie, a Steak and Stilton Pie. Brockleby’s are based in Melton Mowbray. The pie beat off stiff competition from over 900 other pies of all types to win the most prestigious award in the pie world. Awards chairman, Matthew O’Callaghan, said: “Last year we had the pleasure of enjoying some spectacular pies, and Brockleby’s Pies overcame stiff competition for not only the best hoteating savoury pie, but also triumphed over all other entries to be crowned the supreme champion. “These awards celebrate the skill of British piemakers across the nation, so I’d like to say a particular congratulations to Brockleby’s for this huge success.” Over 150 judges (including myself and Andrew) will chomp their way through the pies in St Mary’s Church in Melton Mowbray. Some 23 classes covering Pork Pies, Steak & Ale, Game, Vegan, Gluten Free, Dessert, Vegetarian and more. The Supreme Champion piemaker was invited once again to the British Fair in Japan with Flight and Hotel expenses paid courtesy

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

of the generosity of Hankyu Department Store of Japan. Every year they have a category aimed exclusively at fish and chip shops where over 26 million pies are consumed every year, which myself and Andrew help to judge. The winner of the best fish and chip pie category in 2023 was The Cod’s Scallops for their excellent Steak & Scale Ale pie, and they were also Highly Commended for their Chicken, leek and ham pie. Finally, after a hard day’s judging we assembled for a de-brief at the Ann of Cleves (est 1384) public house. They did have pie on the menu but somehow we just couldn’t face it For further details of the 2024 awards and to see all individual winners from 2023 including Class Champions, Highly Commended, Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards visit www.britishpieawards.co.uk

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

What’s Cooking?… Join us at What’s Cooking?, Henry Colbeck’s annual trade show, at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh on 3rd March 2024, and connect with key industry experts, product manufacturers and companies who can help make your business more profitable!

HY VISIT WHAT’S COOKING? With 90+ stands, and a host of new exhibitors for 2024, there are so many reasons to join us… and here are just some of them! Entry is FREE – and you, your family and your team are all invited! It’s a great day out with something for everyone, including free kids’ entertainment and prizes galore – you don’t even need to spend a single penny once you’re there. Tickets have been sent to all Henry Colbeck customers, but if you’re not an existing Henry Colbeck customer you’ll be warmly welcomed too! Call our team on 01236 425656 (Scotland) or 0191 482 4242 (England) or visit Eventbrite to claim your free tickets now! https://tinyurl.com/ WhatsCooking24 YOU COULD SAVE £££’s with exclusive offers available to visitors placing orders on the day – it’s well worth attending to take advantage of the wide range of deals. Not a Henry Colbeck customer? Not a problem – you can open an account on the day to take advantage of the offers available! WIN BIG – £3,000 GIVEAWAY LIVE ON THE DAY! Why? Just to say thank you for

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

coming to the show. Between 10.30am and 3.30pm, a winner will be randomly selected each hour, and six lucky winners will leave with £500 of Henry Colbeck credit or Save + Select Points automatically added to their account. Could you be a winner? GET A FREE BOX OF 42 ND STREET CLASSIC JUMBO SAUSAGES! Made with prime cuts of pork shoulder, 42ND STREET Classic Sausages are a national fish & chip shop favourite – and every account that places an order on the day will automatically get a FREE case, to turn into instant PROFIT! LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS – Pizza & Pasta Masters in the Italian Quarter will be sharing their secrets and giving Master Class demos. Grab a chair, a cappuccino, or sample Italian wines, and try some delicious new and existing products to tickle your tastebuds and inspire your menu. Or visit “The Fry Inn” where you’ll find fish & chip industry experts, award winners and mystery “Fryentists”! Sample some Rammi Frozen at Sea Haddock and Cod; find out how to cut fish to increase portion quantities; try ‘fresh’ chips from pre-prepared potatoes, tasty sides and condiments; meet fat, oil and batter flour experts; and discover the latest in food labelling technology solutions, and how to manage allergen information. GET ADVICE & FIND SOLUTIONS from bespoke and sustainable packaging to EPOS systems, digital marketing and tech, range equipment, uniforms, labelling Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

We Are! and branding – there will be experts showcasing products and unique ideas that might demonstrate ways to bring in more customers, appeal to a wider audience and improve your profits! TRY BEFORE YOU BUY across a wide range of freshly fried and cooked hot foods, new product innovations, curries, gravies, condiments, and drinks, plus a host of Scottish specialities that includes puddings, haggis, pakoras, smokies, deep fried pizzas and fry pies! A WARM WELCOME You’ll receive a very warm welcome from the Colbeck family and the whole Henry Colbeck team, and from industry experts, including NFFF Directors, the Chippy Chat team, RSPO palm specialists and the organisers of National Fish & Chip Day (who will be selling discounted merch too ), all under the same roof. Please join us! It’s easy to reach by road, tram, bus and rail – the Royal Highland Centre is just a short walk from Edinburgh Airport too. There’s FREE parking and it’s wheelchair and pram accessible. Please join us at ‘What’s Cooking? 2024’ and let us show you why we’re committed to being ‘More Than Just a Supplier’. 35

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Pedigree British Couple excel in Australian Chip Shop

humley Warner’s fish and chips Brisbane are proper British – the eatery sources sustainable North Atlantic cod and haddock, scampi and roe just like you would get in the UK. You’ll also find other classic British eats such as handmade pasties, battered black pudding, hot pork pies with mushy peas and deep-fried Mars Bars. Oh, and there’s plenty of vinegar too for those that love that authentically British taste. Ran by husband-and-wife team Louise and Adrian Warner it was started a few years ago as a result of customer demand. The couple already ran a British product shop selling anything from marmalade to Cadbury’s chocolate. The shop was loved by locals and ex-pats alike, but most customers always asked them if they could sell British fish and chips too. It was then the idea of Chumley Warners came about. Adrian was a trained chef and set about getting the training he needed

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Chum! for the shop by working in a shop back in the UK. All of the equipment was sourced there too much of it from near to the couples Sutton Coldfield home. They have now successfully ran the most Southerly British Fish & Chip Shop in the world for over ten years, even winning the best British Restaurant award for the whole of Austrialia. People now travel from all over to try their fish and chips. Louise said: “ We are often asked how difficult is it running a traditional British chippy in Australia. Well, I would say if you do your research and our passionate about using the best ingredients then you have a chance to do well.” Recently they had a visit from Gary Warner and his family (from Warners Fish Merchants). They had been on a holiday to New Zealand and Australia. Gary said: “It was so nice to have authentic fish and chips over 10,000 miles from home The fish is Icelandic North Atlantic caught haddock and cod, 37

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

the potatoes are locally sourced. The fish and chips were excellent. Just what you would expect from a traditional English chippy. All the usual sauces you could expect too - I had mushy peas and they were excellent, they had curry options and were surprisingly busy, considering the heat.” Phil Spencer from ‘Location Location Location’ came to visit and film at Chumley Warner’s Birkdale which was aired in both the UK and Australia. He very much enjoyed his fish and chips www.chumleywarners.com.au

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

The Chip Leaders! Spotlight on National Chip Week

he Q Partnership (Henry Colbeck, Friars Pride & V.A.Whitley) is reviving National Chip Week (20th - 26th February 2024) with a new promotional campaign. This week-long celebration of the British staple was originally organised by the Potato Council, with the aim of increasing demand in what is traditionally a quieter trading period. Over time, when the Potato Council became AHBD Potatoes in 2015 - and more recently a new institution called GB Potatoes - promotional activity dropped away and National Chip Week no longer had an active champion. However, The Q Family Partnership are planning to change all of this in 2024 and have created a range of promotional assets and a consumer competition for shops to use to help champion National Chip Week once again! Keep an eye out for further details on Q Partnership socials from week commencing Monday 29th January. Georgina Colbeck, Marketing Director at Henry Colbeck, commented on behalf of the Q Partnership, to say: “We hope everyone in the industry gets behind what will be the 33rd National Chip Week and that chip sales soar! It’s a fantastic way to highlight the versatility of potatoes and demonstrate that chips can be eaten as part of a balanced diet and served with a range of toppings and sides to make a hot and affordable meal, that is also easy to eat on the go.” For further details, please email marketing@colbeck.co.uk, marketing@ friarspride.com or sales@vawhitley.co.uk

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

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Come to the Farm for the Isle of Ely Open Day on Sunday September 15th 2024 By Austen Dack

he event put on by John, Oliver and Claire Boutwood and hosted by (myself) Chippy Chat Publishing Editor Austen Dack highlights the journey the potato makes before it hits 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. In 2023 over 100 friers, farmers & suppliers travelled to Ely Cambridgeshire for the 9th annual Isle of Ely Produce & Chippy Chat open day.

Plus, we gave visitors you the allimportant lowdown on the 2023/24 potato crop and how it could affect you in the year ahead with a trip out to see the crop for yourselves. 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 (before the huge Autumn rainfall).

In 2023 we had some great speakers for you on the day plus lots of great suppliers too including. Austen Dack Host & Welcome Andrew Crook - NFFF President Oliver Boutwood – Isle of Ely Produce Michael Neaverson – Neaverson Growers Ltd Sean Farry – OilChef Sarah Heward – Real Food Café, Tyndrum Nick Hucker – Preoday/Qikserve Victoria Braathen - Norwegian Seafood Council Geoff Whitehead & Andrew Crook – Whitehead’s Fish & Chips/National Fish & Chip Award Champions

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Now!

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 Seafood from Norway. The chips were made from Babylon and gave the new variety one of its biggest tests yet with over 100 guests all queueing up to try them. McWhinney’s also served their best in Europe sausages plus there was free teas and coffee with homemade cake too.

This open day put on by the Boutwood family and Isle of Ely Produce is a big investment for this industry. Any other suppliers who would like to sponsor/ present and/or have a stand on the day please email austen@chippychat.co.uk We are already planning open day 2024, pencilled in for 15/09/2024. If you would like to attend as a frier or supplier and want details of please in the first instance email austen@chippychat.co.uk Places at the open day are at a premium but thanks to the sponsors still FREE. Have you been to the open day? Let us know your thoughts – email austen@ chippychat.co.uk

In the Evening over 50 stayed in Ely and headed out for a meal and a few beers. It is always good to reserve your hotel rooms in Ely for this early. Thanks again to this year’s sponsors.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

Flavour of the Month! FlavOil High Oleic - making great strides in the Fish & Chip industry

lavOil High Oleic Cooking oil has made great strides in the Fish & Chip trade since it was first introduced. Up until that time the trade has relied on a small group of familiar oils and fats many based on solid Palm. Many of these solid fats do indeed perform well in deep frying but they are saturated fats and they can open up the trade to the familiar and overused claim that fish & chips are an unhealthy meal. Modern medical advice is very clear that saturated fats can be unhealthy to eat. By using oil richer in monounsaturated fats and especially very low in saturated fat, fish & chips becomes a healthier option. After all the frying medium is absorbed into the dish and becomes a part of the meal. It therefore stands to reason that a healthier oil will produce a healthier meal. FlavOil High Oleic has come out better than any frying oils we tested against. Our oil resists breakdown and will outlast cheap commodity oils. It has no oily taste. Does not smell and produces a fine crisp finish that lasts. It is economical in use and reduces waste and downtime. High Oleic oils are not only a healthy option, but they are robust in use, certainly a match for solid saturated fats and vastly superior to cheap vegetable oils. This robustness is due to the large percentage (7580%) of monounsaturated fats in the oil. These fats react slowly with oxygen and so delay breakdown

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024

considerably. This can be tested by trialling the oil and checking the TPMs (microscopic debris in the oil) with a device such as a Testo 270. The effect is even more dramatic when best practices are followed such as temperature guidelines and even the use of filtration devices. FlavOil cares for the environment too because it is entirely plant based, 100% sustainable and can considerably reduce waste oil or eliminates it altogether. The oil is available in a revolutionary Bagin-box that uses 80% less plastic than regular packaging. FlavOil introduced High Oleic oils to the UK quick service restaurant trade and other suppliers have introduced their own versions. Kurtis Green who runs Tropics Fish & Chips in Dersingham, Norfolk swears by using Flavoil. He said “Flavoil is the best oil product on the market. It has a unique flavour that my customers love. It also has a breakdown resistance so the oil lasts me months, rather than weeks so it not only gives me a great tasting quality product but one that saves me money too.” FlavOil is available all over the British Isles direct from the manufacturer on 0207 1381 077. Find out why fish and chip shops are changing to Flavoil. It is a natural oil high in healthy fats, strong against oxidation, and is better for you. If you would like to try Flavoil’s High Olieic Sunflower Oil call them on 0207 1381 077 or visit www.flavoil.co.uk

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • February 2024