Chippy Chat Jan 24 by Chippy Chat Magazine

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NEW exhibitors for 2024

FREE Classic Sausages

0 to be £3,00

Sunday 3rd March 1Oam - 4pm Royal Highland Centre Edinburgh EH28 8NB

won!

Pizza & Italian Zone

Over 90 exhibitors!

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with R AMMI!

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YOU'RE INVITED!

Join Henry Colbeck at their annual trade show and get your New Year off to a profitable start! It's a great, free day out for the whole family and a unique opportunity to meet industry experts, food & drink suppliers, and a wide range of industry service providers.

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Not a Henry Colbeck customer? No problem – you’re invited too!

PLUS, YOU CAN SAVE AND WIN £££’S ON THE DAY!

king & FREE par tainment kids enter

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www.chippychat.co.uk

austen@chippychat.co.uk

TEL 01353 658216

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Shiny Happy People Norwegian 1 Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024 Laughing! Good!

Issue 1 Volume 14 January 2024

We all live in a Blue Submarine!

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Andrew Joins OilChef! To Help You Save up to 60% on Oil/Fat Costs!

ilChef the award-winning global brand of oil, labour and energy saving solution for deep fryers, has appointed a new UK Sales & Marketing Director, Andrew Jackson. CEO, Sean Farry, welcomes the new addition to the Global OilChef team, stating: “We welcome Andrew to the UK Team and look forward to his contribution in expanding the OilChef client base in the UK and promoting our brand in every corner of the food service and hospitality industry. We have made a big entry into the Fish and Chip market in 2023 and we look forward to continued exponential growth in 2024 and beyond”. Andrew Jackson is no stranger to this industry, a former restaurateur and Head Chef, Andrew has had a number of sales roles in the industry, having managed and grown multimillion pound portfolios in the food service, energy/sustainability, and equipment industry. An Oxford native, currently residing in Somerset, Andrew is excited to expand the OilChef portfolio in 2024 and beyond. Winners of the Best Innovation in Restaurant & Takeaway Innovation Expo in UK 2022, OilChef has recently announced its commitment to the fish & chip industry globally. As an associated member of the NFFF, OilChef has been supporting and continues to support the members with significant discounts and extended payment options. It has also become a key supporter of the 2024 National Fish & Chip Awards. One of Andrew’s first jobs in his new role was to present the Golden Chip Awards at the recent Chippy Chat Chip Barons’ Ball which OilChef sponsored. The average chippy depends on great quality oils, potatoes, fish, labour and energy to operate on a weekly basis

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

and OilChef is a “Game-Changer”. The innovative device helps operators to produce more food per kg of cooking fuel, save on cooking time and cooking energy and add extra value to food quality and consistency. OilChef is a premium brand that has created deep fryer products to help operators reduce their oil by up to 50% per month. Using FDA Approved Technology, OilChef is not a filter or a chemical. It requires no wires or power and is virtually maintenance free. Oilchef is being used by top chip shops across the UK including Geoff Whitehead from the UK’s No 1 Takeaway Whiteheads of Hornsea, and David Hennigan of Hennighan’s Fish & Chip Takeaway & Restaurant, Machynlleth, with great results not only saving time, & money but also delivering consistently good fish & chips. Founded in Canada in 2023, by Eco Friendly Chef Corp, the Global awardwinning innovation is now established and operational in 32 countries. Whether you filter oil or not, installing the OilChef device in your open pot fryer, pressure fryer or fish pan range help you save between 25% to 50% on oil, fat, dripping or shortening costs. OilChef is a simple 3 second simple self-installation system that acts as a catalytic converter for your deep fryer that slows down deterioration of oil. Fry your food quicker and save money on energy in the process. OilChef is the award-winning deep-frying solution that also reduces your carbon footprint as well as creating safer, healthier, and more superior quality tasting food. With a 14-day money back guarantee and a full 3-year warranty, OilChef is a win win! For more information, contact us. sales@oilchef.com www.oilchef.com

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

FRY MORE ~ FOR LESS “Best Deepfryer Accessory”

“OilChef TM can double the life of your range oil/fat

Enhance food taste and quality with the Oil Chef TM device 3 second installation ~ 3 year warranty

Eco-Friendly Technology www.oilchef.com

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Welcome to 2024!

W Austen Dack Publishing Editor

elcome to 2024 from all at Chippy Chat! I can’t believe we are entering into yet another New Year! There seems a little let up in price rises for many of the products essential for all shop owners. Potato prices will be challenging though due to the difficulty in lifting the 2023 harvest. Our first feature of the year is all things fish we look at several key fish suppliers, brands and vessel owners as they tell us what’s hot in their industry right now. There are several events for us to

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

look forward to in the first quarter of the year. The National Fish & Chip Awards are on Feb 28th in London. There are still a few tickets left although they are proving to be popular with the announcement of as this year’s host. Add to that trade shows for Henry Colbeck and TQ and planning for National Fish & Chip Day and it all adds up to a busy start to the year. For stories, and or advertising opportunities please contact me austen@chippychat.co.uk www.chippychat.co.uk

Say growth, say

Agrico.

Specialist breeder and supplier of high grade seed potatoes, bringing new and innovative chipping varieties to the fast food trade.

• High yielding • Superb taste • Premium yellow chip • Consistent fry quality • Long term storability

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

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Babylon...

Why not ask your local supplier today! Call: 01307 840 551 Email: potatoes@agrico.co.uk

www.agrico.co.uk @agrico_uk @AgricoUK

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Chiply Come Dancing! Arlene Phillips waltzes in

Diary Dates Business or pleasure, dates not to be missed

Rob & Chips!

Terminal Takes Off!

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Lewis’s Fish and Grill Founders Devise Incredible New Machine

Happy New Year from all at Collins Seafoods!

at Sea Fillets to Fish Friers in the UK

An Enormous Year

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Seafood from Norway: A look back at 2023

Fishing the Unique Consistent quality and quantity!

The Chip Barons’ Nights! Oh what a night!!

Flavour of the Month! Making great strides in the Fish & Chip industry

Love me Tender! Crunch time as 10 chip shops make the Takeaway of the Year final

Hewigo delivers in the Blue Submarine! New Hewigo Range gives speed, cost saving and image

Isle of Ely/Chippy Chat Open Day Come and join us!

Environmentally Friendly! Chip shops in the running to bag Environmental Industry Award announced

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

January 2024

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Peter’s & Glee We’re off to the Australian Gold Coast!

Five Stars Five chippies can’t wait to see who’s won the Field to Frier industry award!

What’s Cooking?… We Are! Predicting Potato Prices for 2023/24!

It’s a Fair Cop! Frozen at sea fish come from healthy and well managed stocks

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Chip Awards 2023

Smales - The largest supplier of Frozen

Inside

Rob Beckett to host National Fish and

Scaling New Heights!

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

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

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

For prompt, efficient service please call:

01553 772935

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

Frying Ranges

Chiply Come Dancing! O

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

ne award winning fish and chip shop recently had a visit from Arlene Phillips. Arlene is an English choreographer, talent scout, television judge and presenter, theatre director, and former dancer, who has worked in many fields of entertainment. Phillips was a member of the inaugural judging panel between 2004 and 2009 for the BBC television series Strictly Come Dancing, alongside fellow judges Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, and Bruno Tonioli. Linzi Morris co-owner of the Fiddlers Elbow in Leintwardine said of the visit. “Today was a day filled with star-studded delight as we had the incredible Arlene Phillips DBE visit our humble abode for a taste of our delicious Fish & Chips! It was an absolute pleasure serving this dance legend, and we're thrilled to have added a sprinkle of glam to our cozy spot. Thank you, Arlene, for visiting us today! To all our amazing customers, come on down and savor the same mouthwatering Fish & Chips that brought joy to Arlene's day. Who knows, you might just find yourself tapping your feet to the rhythm of our crispy goodness.” Who has visited your shop? Email Austen@chippychat.co.uk

MARTYN EDWARDS FRANK FORD KIREMKO (KFE) HENRY NUTTALL SCOTRANGE EDEN RANGE

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

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 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 • January 2024

Gold Partner 7

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024 2023

Diary Dates Business or pleasure, dates not to be missed... January 1-31st 2024

June 6th 2024

Veganuary

National Fish & Chip Day

Veganuary is an annual challenge run by a UK non-profit organisation that promotes and educates about veganism by encouraging people to follow a vegan lifestyle for the month of

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.

January.

February 28th 2024

June 9th 2024

National Fish & Chip Awards

T.Quality Fish Frying & Fast Food 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.

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

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 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.

The Chippy Chat Ball is booked in.

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

The Chippy Chat Ball

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December 8th 2024

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British Pie Week

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

Rob & Chips! Rob Beckett to host National Fish and Chip Awards 2024

nglish comedian and presenter, Rob Beckett, will host this year’s National Fish and Chip Awards, it has been announced recently. Rob’s appointment follows the success of last year’s presenter and fellow comedian Jason Manford. The National Fish and Chip Awards celebrate the best of fish and chips in Britain, from the best takeaways, restaurants, and suppliers to those implementing staff training and environmentally friendly initiatives. Beckett, known for his award-winning comedy and entertainment, will present multiple awards to fish and chip professionals from around the UK, for categories including Best Newcomer, Agrico & Isle of Ely’s Field to Frier and the much coveted Takeaway of the Year. Organised by The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), the acclaimed ceremony will take place on the 28th of February 2024, at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge. The principal sponsor of the awards are Seafood from Norway. Although the guest list is mainly industry-focused, tickets are open to the general public and discounted accommodation is available with ticket sales. Andrew Crook, President at the NFFF, said “Having Rob Beckett as our presenter for the National Fish and Chip Awards is the best news we could have hoped for! His comedic and uplifting personality will be a great addition to the awards luncheon and I’m sure much loved by our guests! Rob is a firm family favourite, just like fish and chips. We’re so looking forward to celebrating.” Rob Beckett 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 co-host The Royal Variety Performance with Romesh, the first time two comedians had hosted the event together in over 30 years.

For further information on the National Fish and Chip Awards 2024, please visit: www.thefishandchipawards.com. 10

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Terminal Takes Off! Lewis’s Fish and Grill Founders Devise Incredible New Machine By Gavin Lewis

raig and I have worked in hospitality all our lives, during this time we’ve met some amazing people and had priceless experiences. Meeting Hanus and Jogvan of JFK is something we’re eternally grateful for. When they invited us to fry the fish and chips at the christening of the new super vessel Gadus, it was our pleasure and privilege. Craig and the team had a wonderful time and the Gadus fish and Isle of Ely chips were amazing. JFKs passion for excellence and welfare is inspiring, and their fish is caught and frozen witrhin four hours and is fresher than fresh. Thank you to the whole Gadus team. Austen has kindly given us this opportunity to also speak about our Hot Order Terminals. These were born out of necessity and originally not for market, but something we needed to grow in our ever-developing business. Especially during the Pandemic, orders would come in for collection or delivery and we struggled to cope. Do we cook the food ready and keep it in the cabinets? Do we bag it up and keep it under lights? Will the customers be on time to collect? How long will the drivers be? So many variables meant that

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

it was almost impossible to get right. We needed a solution. So we designed our Hot Order Terminal, it changed how we do business. Now orders can be packed and stored in full confidence and peace of mind that when it is passed on to either driver or customer, it is as fresh as the moment you packed it. Its unique design and ventilation means that hot air is circulated around the cabinet, keeping the temperature controlled and therefore the packaged food at its best. CEO Just Eat Europe said “this is a game changer”. Cold food is the number 1 complaint and reason for refunds. Our Hot Order Terminal means that businesses have full confidence in knowing that the food has left the premises at a controlled temperature. This has driven both in-store ‘Click and Collect’ orders as well as deliveries. When customers are handed a hot bag of packaged food they smile and you know they’ll be back. Terminals are made from high grade UK steel, fully insulated and are super economic. They can be made to measure and are easily moveable. Standard sizes of 2,4,6 door compartments. For more details please check us out on facebook. Lewis’s hospitality solutions. Or drop us a message: eat@lewisfishandgrill.co.uk Ask your fish merchant for fish from JFK and the brand new Gadus vessel.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

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.

2024

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Read more about our certifications on www.jfk.fo Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Happy New Year from all at Collins Seafoods! 2023 has been a busy year for us at Collins Seafoods.

he Kirkella landed an impressive amount of fish last year, each trip proving very successful. This has provided us with plenty of Cod and Haddock to distribute to fish and chip shops, pubs restaurants and wholesalers across the country. As well as supplying the UK through our depots in County Durham and Leeds, Collins Seafoods Ireland continues to supply fish to our customers all over Ireland. Last year saw us launch our competition for National Fish and Chip day, the prize was a tour of the Kirkella. When the Vessel landed in Hull in October, Carol, Martin, and Elaine from our sales team accompanied the winners from 3 shops, Olivers Fish and Chip Restaurant in Redcar, Ritz Fisheries in Leeds, and Eskdale Fisheries in Sleights, on a visit to Hull. They were welcomed onboard the vessel by skipper Charlie and were given a very in-depth tour of the vessel. The day was rounded off perfectly with lunch being served on board, of course it was a delicious portion of fish and chips. A wonderful day had by all! One of our clients and competition winners, James Verrill at Eskdale Fisheries, told us his thoughts on frozenat-sea compared to fresh fish: “Personally, I like to fry frozen-at-sea cod over fresh most of the time because it has a more consistent and stable price. You also have the ability to defrost small amounts as required, and it can last for periods of time that fresh doesn’t allow.” Having a good relationship with our customers is extremely important to us. We are constantly learning more about their requirements which helps us to improve and adapt to their specifications, something we have worked hard on in 2023 and will continue to work on in 2024.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

We also benefit from having good relationships with our sundry suppliers, which brings advantages for our clients. This year saw Mcwhinney’s celebrate their 125th anniversary, some of our customers took part in their celebrations, which saw them offering free sausage and chips in their shops. Bigfoot also came to visit us at our North East office. In 2023, we further built on our relationship with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), working closely with the organisation to ensure we met all the sustainability requirements to ensure full traceability on our products. We also attended the MSC Awards 2023, hosted by Fishmongers Company in London. A wonderful evening, hosted in a spectacular venue. We would like to congratulate all the winners. In a bid to improve our sustainability within the business, 2023 saw us installing electric vehicle chargers and solar panels in both depots. We’ve also implemented a superb, pioneering online waste management portal which allows us, among other things, to track and optimise our recycling which has already lowered our carbon footprint. We would like to say thank you to Chippy Chat Magazine for working with us over the years, and we would like to wish our valued customers all the best for 2024.

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@necollinsseafoods.co.uk COLLINS SEAFOODS YORKSHIRE: Unit 2, Felnex Crescent, Cross Green Industrial Estate, Leeds, LS9 0SN Tel: 0113 2498832 Email: salesyorkshire@collinsseafoods.co.uk

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Collins Seafoods - bringing the Collins Seafoods - bringing the taste 2024 taste of of thethe seasea to to 2023 15

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Scaling New Heights! Smales - The largest supplier of Frozen at Sea Fillets to Fish Friers in the UK

or over 85 years the Smales family have been supplying Fish & Chip shops across the UK with premium quality Cod & Haddock. Founded in 1937, Smales remains wholly and independently owned by the Smales family with the third and fourth generations actively working in the business today. During this time the company has developed an excellent reputation throughout the UK, thanks to its sourcing of the finest fish and seafood, coupled with its experienced and dedicated team of employees. From being the first UK importer of Frozen At Sea fillets for distribution to the Fish & Chip sector, we have built strong trading links with many prominent quota holding fishing companies throughout Europe, which allows us to offer our customers the widest choice of Frozen At Sea brands in the market. This strong supply base means we can provide reassurance and continuity to thousands of businesses – including many winners of the National Fish & Chip Awards. Today we are the largest supplier of Frozen At Sea fillets direct to Fish Friers with over a million portions of Cod or Haddock for fish & chips being sourced through our distribution network every week! Our product range extends beyond Frozen At Sea fillets and we offer Individually Quick Frozen fillets such as Haddock, Plaice and Sea Bass; an extensive list of seafood items including Prawns, Scampi, Fish Cakes and Squid;

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

plus a number of core Fish & Chip menu items like Sausages, Pies, Coated Chicken and much more. We also work closely with all of our suppliers to enable us to develop and introduce innovative products in order to give our customers the choice and variation they need to stay ahead of the market. The Smales distribution network covers the whole of England and Wales via our 7 regional distribution centres that provide a reliable, friendly delivery service direct to your do, and through selected haulage partners we also arrange frequent deliveries to Scotland, Ireland, Europe and beyond! We continually train and invest in our team which allows us to ensure our customers have access to the best and most relevant market information as well as a high standard of customer service. With over 450 years combined experience in the industry, our knowledgeable sales team are on hand to give the best advice on brand or product availability, pricing and delivery service. We are a proud sponsor of the National Fish & Chip Awards and would like to wish all finalists good luck in London in February. We also supported the recent Chip Barons’ Ball, where we lifted a Chippy Chat Golden Chip Marketing Award!

Contact Smales today on 01482 324997 to discuss how we can support your business. Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

An Enormous Seafood from Norway: A look back at 2023

s we enter a new year, Seafood from Norway takes a moment to celebrate some of the important collaborative work it carried out with the fish and chip industry in the year gone by. 2023 got off to a bang, with SFN sponsoring the National Fish and Chip Awards arranged by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) in February. After months of extensive judging, a fantastic night was had and as the winners were crowned, they celebrated being the best in the business. Norway Day in May brought another opportunity to recognise two great ocean nations coming together over Britain’s favourite dish. With festivities across the UK in National Fish & Chip Award winning venues, and main celebrations in London with Pimp My Fish, flags were waved and seafood enjoyed all round. As summer neared, National Fish and Chip Day, arranged by NEODA, saw SFN offering a plethora of content and resources to support the industry and publicise the event. Many shops went all out, offering promotions and putting on specials for what really is one of the best calendar days of the year! Being rewarded for their hard work and continued support for the industry, the winners of the 2023 National Fish & Chip Awards embarked on a study trip to Norway to visit the western shores and to experience for themselves why the country really is a true seafood nation. The action-packed trip

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Year! included a voyage onboard Atlantic, one of Norway’s frozen-at-sea vessels, where the champions experienced first-hand the fleet’s world-class sustainable processes and facilities. A visit to Ellingsøy, the northernmost island in Ålesund, gave the group an opportunity to meet with Brødrene Sperre, one of Norway’s largest producers of wild caught fish. Coming home, the winners were buoyed by their experience and excited to be able to share some of their new knowledge with their teams and customers. More recently, the newly appointed Norwegian Ambassador to the UK, HE Tore Hattrem, took his first official visit to the UK’s seafood capital, Grimsby, together with Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) CEO Christian Chramer and UK Director Victoria Braathen. The visit included a fish and chips programme with Martin Vickers MP for Cleethorpes, Andrew Crook President of the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) and 2023 National Fish & Chip Award winner Geoff Whitehead of Whiteheads Fish & Chips. Enjoying an iconic lunch together at Papas Cleethorpes, they were able to celebrate and cement the relationship between the two fishing nations. Looking to 2024 and the next National Fish and Chip Awards, of which SFN is the principal sponsor and a sponsor of the Environment and Sustainability category, there is enthusiasm around industry 19

innovation to make it a more sustainable one, with future generations in mind. Furthermore, March will see SFN sponsor the Fry Awards, a celebration of the 50 best takeaways and 10 best restaurants across the UK. The Norwegian seafood industry has worked closely with the fish and chip industry in the UK for many years and this collaboration and dialogue will remain key. We look forward to supporting the industry with more engaging initiatives and continuing valued partnerships with NEODA, Chippy Chat, and FASFA, and of course the many talented operators, distributors and media championing fish and chips across the UK. NSC UK Director, Victoria Braathen said: “2023 was a productive year in fish and chips. Whilst it didn’t go without its challenges, more than ever we saw a sense of the industry pulling together to showcase fish and chips and doing some great collaborative work. It’s inspiring to be a part of this, and to have had so many positive interactions with incredibly talented stakeholders and operators whose passion for great quality fish and chips is unrivalled. We’re looking ahead to 2024, but couldn’t let 2023 pass without acknowledging some of our favourite moments” For more information about sustainably caught cod and haddock from Norway, visit www.seafoodfromnorway.co.uk.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Fishing the Unique U

nique Seafood Group is one of the UK’s main players in the seafood industry, supplying dependable, consistent quality and quantity fish at great value direct from our partner vessels at sea, without any middlemen. They are Unique; a professional and trustworthy supplier, building long-term relationships in the wholesale, industrial, retail and food service sectors in the UK, Europe and further afield - and supplying direct to Britain’s Fish & Chip Shops, Takeaways and Restaurants. As well as superb seafood they stock a vast choice of leading quality chicken, sausages, burgers, pies, pasties, pancake rolls, buns, baps, breaded and battered foods, plus halal and vegetarian foods. Recently the best fish and chip shops in the UK visited Norway to take a trip onboard Atlantic, a vessel Unique have a great relationship with and supply chip shops across the UK from. Seafood from Norway organised this visit which was attended by the winning shops from the recent 2023 National Fish & Chip Awards. Invited to the trip and onboard Atlantic, was Bob Leahy manager of Fish City, Belfast who’s shop won both Restaurant of the Year and the Environment and Sustainability Award at the NFFF ran event. Some of his account onboard the Atlantic is documented below. We were welcomed by owner Kjell Gunnar Hoddevik, his family and the crew, and shown around the spacious and wellappointed vessel. Unlike coastal fishing boats that set out to sea for up to 24 hours at a time, the Atlantic goes out to sea for a month at a time; and, to keep the workers well fed they maintain a large galley, mess (dining room) and scullery, which surprised me given how tight space can be even in a restaurant (on

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

land!) for all these functions. Atlantic’s merging of longline fishing with green technologies makes it an innovative, climatefriendly producer of cod and haddock fillets for the UK market, as well as fillets of tusk, ling and saithe for the local Norwegian market and for export. The Atlantic is by all assessments a floating factory, with many processes across the operation entirely automated, including the sorting, weighting, heading and cleaning of the fish, as well as the packing and processing of the fillets. Its baited 8,000-metre longline consists of 60,000 hooks, of which about 10 percent are serviced by hand each day. Along those thousands of hooks is placed a patent-pending bait product made with locally sourced mackerel. We learned that when caught, the fish are anaesthetised before being cut and bled by hand, with the recognition that fish are living creatures and should be handled gently and properly. As we took the sea route inland through jaw-droppingly beautiful landscapes in the Fjords, I could not help but appreciate how much work, investment, and ingenuity goes into sourcing the fish we in the UK enjoy at our local chippies and restaurants. Norway has very strict catch limits, or quotas, that are enforced by the Norwegian Coast Guard. Nearly 70 percent of the Coast Guard’s resources go in to ensuring that fishing activities are in line with Norwegian regulations. Fishing vessels are boarded as often as daily to monitor that their quotas are not exceeded. Quotas are the subject of continuous research and assessment by regulators, industry representatives and scientists, all with the long-term viability of Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Way! fish Advert fish stocks in mind. To minimise the risk of catching younger fish that have not yet reproduced, fish stocks are constantly monitored for where they are in the ocean at any given moment. Rules are in place that also ban destructive fishing practices and equipment in order to minimise the catch of undersized fish and non-target species, as well as to preserve the quality of the final product. Fisheries in Norway cannot start fishing in a new vessel unless they have a quota allocated specifically to that vessel from a set national quota. The amount of research put into Norway’s stock management and the teeth they put into implementing responsible fishing practices is nothing short of exemplary. I was blown away at the commitment of the Norwegians to their fishing industry and thankful that I had the opportunity to learn more about it. The next day we took a visit to Ellingsøy and one of Norway’s largest producers of wild caught fish, Brødrene Sperre for a tour of their processing facility. Their Commercial Director Kjetil Sperre took time out to show us around. With the world’s best fishing grounds right outside their factories, the fishermen are able to bring raw material of the highest quality. Brødrene Sperre dedicates every available resource in preserving this quality and freshness in every step of production. Martin Brown Sales Director from Unique Seafood said: “It was brilliant to see the UK’s best shops onboard Atlantic and at Brødrene Sperre. We are proud to supply both cod and haddock from the vessel and processing facility and know firsthand just how good they both are.” Contact Unique Seafood today on 0203 260 3580, to find out how they can help you with your fish supply. www.uniqueseafood.co.uk

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

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Ch ristmas Ba

The Chip Barons’ Nights!

ell, what a great night we all had at the Chippy Chat Isle of Ely Produce Chip Barons’ Ball! The room was full of award-winning shops, fantastic suppliers and farmers. Over 200 people arrived from across the UK (we even had Wright’s Chippy attend from the US too) and all went home happy. We once again gave away the Golden Chip Awards, which this year were sponsored by Oil Chef. Entertainment was provided by So 80’s who powered through a string of hits from the decade. They were followed by the famous Chippy Chat disco who played right through to 1am. Non dancers played on the Las Vegas Casino, and also dressed up and joined in the fun at the Blakeman’s sponsored photobooth. It was a Christmas party and PreAwards celebration all wrapped up in one. Next year we will do it all on Sunday December 8th. With over 80% of people confirming their attendance already it’s looking to be a sell out already. – Thanks to all of our sponsors. If you would like to attend and/or sponsor please email austen@chippychat.co.uk

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

A Huge Thankyou to all of our Sponsors!

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 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 • January 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 • January 2024

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Tel: 0207 1381077 25 Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024 info@flavoil.co.uk

Love me Tender! Crunch time as 10 chip shops make Takeaway of the Year final

en great chip shops have been announced as Takeaway of the Year finalists for the 2024 edition of the National Fish and Chip Awards. It was an extremely hard choice for the expert judging panel which had the tricky task of assessing an impressive selection of fish and chip shops from around the UK. Examination of industry knowledge, eco credentials, employer responsibilities and more, saw the original shortlist of 40 contenders become 20 and now 10 hopefuls are gearing up for mystery visits - the final factor in determining which will be crowned chip shop champion. The purpose of the rigorous evaluation stages being to encourage chippies to raise their standards and surpass their own expectations of how successful their businesses can be.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

The fish and chip shops on the road to London are: Scotland The Fish Works, Largs County Durham Yarm Road Fish and Chips, Darlington Yorkshire Lighthouse Fisheries of Flamborough, Bridlington Mister C’s, Selby The Fish Bank, Sherburn-in-Elmet Auckley Friery, Doncaster Lincolnshire Marina Fish & Chips, Skegness Wales Finney’s Fish and Chips, Benllech Ship Deck, Caerphilly Zero Plus Fish & Chips, Cardiff The Takeaway of the Year category is sponsored by McWhinneys, Oilchef, Pukka, Smales, Colbecks, Friars Pride, VA Whitely and BD Signs. Awards organiser and National Federation of Fish Friers President Andrew Crook, comments: “To be awarded Takeaway of the Year status by the fish and chip industry is something that many a chip shop business wants to attain. It’s not an easy thing to accomplish and we’re incredibly happy for, and proud of, these 10 brilliant finalists which are edging nearer to what will be a truly amazing outcome for one of them.” Seafood from Norway is the principal sponsor for the awards, with Victoria Braathen, UK Director of the Norwegian Seafood Council, saying: “There’s some serious talent in this finalists’ line up for the Takeaway of the Year. We’re honoured to be supporting these awards which highlights the fantastic work that goes on behind the scenes to put great fish and chips on people’s tables across Britain. “From responsible sourcing, right through to cooking techniques that have been perfected over generations – every element of the process is so important for producing the UK’s favourite dish. We wish all of the finalists the best of luck.” The 10 will be invited to the awards ceremony on 28 February 2024 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London, where ‘salmon’ special will announce the winner. For more information on the National Fish and Chip Awards, please visit: www.thefishandchipawards.com. 27

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Hewigo delivers in the Blue Submarine! New Hewigo Range gives speed, cost saving and image

eplacing a Hewigo Advantage range that has served it manfully for many years, the Blue Submarine in Dudley took delivery last year of a new Hewigo 5-pan Hewigo High Efficiency Island Range to cope with the demands of its ever-growing business. On the same site since 1982 and still family run, the shop has benefited from a growing local population, a new hospital close-by but mostly from its reputation for fine food and great value in this area of the West Midlands. Customers often travel from as much as 4 miles away to savour its food. Tony Andreas, who took over the Blue Submarine from his parents and now runs it with partner Hayley says: “As well as the increase in counter business we now do almost a third of our turnover in deliveries, so we needed a range that was fast and of a design that helped us operate more efficiently. This island range does just

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

that by creating more space and when linked to the counter terminals, to serve quicker.” Eye-level computerised controls, heated 4 section display cabinet, heated gantry with 3 lamps to keep food destined for deliveries warm, basket frying option for all pans and automatic filtration are included in the high spec. The serving counter boasts Hewigo’s unique heated crystal LED top, illuminated fibre laser cut customer logo and 4 till stations. Tony adds “Just about everything about this range has made a real difference - the way we operate, speed, cost saving and our image. When we have as many as 20 people waiting, we just never get caught out. I can’t thank the team at Hewigo enough for giving us such a great range and their first-class support service” Phillip Purkiss, MD of Hewigo(UK) adds “We’ve had a relationship with Tony and his family for many years. I am so pleased that once again we have been able to provide him with a range that has really helped to move his business on. For further information please...

Contact Hewigo (UK) Ltd Bateman House Little Fields Way Oldbury West Midlands B69 2BT Visit: www.hewigo.com T: 0121 544 9120 E: sales@hewigo.com

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 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 • January 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.

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Environmentally Friendly! Chip shops in the running to bag environmental industry award are announced

hree UK fish and chip shops in Wales, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire have emerged as finalists in the Environment and Sustainability category for the 2024 National Fish and Chip Awards. A comprehensive judging process scrutinised UK fish and chip businesses’ e nv i ro nm e nt al and su stain ability practices, which included innovative ways to train staff, explaining the impact the measures have had on the business in relation to people, profit and the planet, and advising other fish and chip businesses on the best steps to take. Hennighan’s in Machynlleth, Seaqueen Fisheries in Mansfield Woodhouse and Hornseabased Whiteheads Fish and Chips have all now secured their ‘plaice’ as contenders to claim the prestigious accolade. Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers and organiser of the awards, praised the entrants’ dedication to developing greener approaches. “There has been clear progression from this year’s chip shop hopefuls with their incorporation of sustainable measures in their business models. The industry climate is tough, with growing pressures to increase environmentally friendly standards and our three finalists are exe m p l a r y i n b e i n g accountable in achieving the requirements. “They are showing long-

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

term impactful commitments and are working closely with the foodservice supply chain to ensure best quality and sustainably sourced produce is available to their local communities. We’re so happy for the trio and it’s our pleasure to commend and support their efforts.” Seafood from Norway is the principal sponsor of the awards, as well as the Environment and Sustainability category. Victoria Braathen, UK Director of the Norwegian Seafood Council, speaks of the importance of sustainability in the seafood sector: “Responsible practices in the fish and chip industry have never been more important and it’s inspiring to see growing awareness from so many businesses and their customers around this topic. “From the fish served, right through to packaging and staffing, it’s about ensuring every element of the supply chain has been assessed so that we can continually improve the impact we are having as an industry. “As a proud seafood nation, the Norwegian seafood industry is delighted to supply responsibly sourced Norwegian cod and haddock for the nation’s favourite dish. We wish the three finalists the very best of luck in the awards!” The National Fish and Chip Awards will take place on 28 February 2024 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, where the winner will be announced. For more information on the National Fish and Chip Awards, please visit: www.thefishandchipawards.com

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

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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 • January 2024 Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 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

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

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Let us transform your business. Contact us on 01386 462214 / 07973 187081 or visit www.centreplan.com 35

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Peter’s Uniquely positioned overlooking the Australian Gold Coast waterways and with the fishing trawlers at its doorstep, Peter’s Fish Markets offers its customers the freshest seafood available, as selected by you straight off the ice.

hey offer over 14 different species of fillets and whole fish, as well as crabs, prawns, bugs, oysters, lobsters, squid, octopus, and more. Their selections are sourced both locally and internationally, including from Asia and New Zealand Dine on your cooked selections by the Broadwater, take home, or take advantage of the prime position near The Spit and dine GC style right on the beach. They are famous too for their crispy chips. Enjoyed with their home-made sauces made on site. Their Fish of the Day can be served with hot chips and the

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

sumptuous calamari, with a side of homemade seafood or tartare sauce. Add to that fresh made daily salads available instore including Greek, Garden, Seafood, and Seaweed salad. Main Beach feels like the Gold Coast before it glammed up, and fish and chips from institution, Peter’s at a picnic table overlooking The Broadwater gives a nostalgic taste of that of old-school holiday vibe. The choice of fish changes daily as it comes directly from the trawlers, so it’s as fresh as you’ll get. Fish can be battered, crumbed, or grilled and there’s also fresh fish, crabs and prawns if you fancy DIYing a seafood dinner at home. Where the freshest catch is ‘your’ choice! How would you like your fish cooked? battered, crumbed or grilled? What about seasoned with lemon pepper, cajun or Moroccan spices? How about thai style with a garlic, chilly and lime marinade? If prawns, lobster mornay, shucked

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

& Glee! oysters, served natural, or even Kilpatrick are more to your liking, or if morton bay bugs, calamari or marinated prawn skewers take your fancy, then this is the best place on the Gold Coast for seafood. For fresh daily fish and chips, cooked to order… For the freshest seafood to take home… For Christmas, Easter, Australia Day, or any other day, there’s no better place to get your fresh local prawns, whole fish, crabs, bugs, lobster, oysters, muscles, calamari octopus and more straight from the ice… than from Peter’s www.petersfish.com.au

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

Five Stars! Five chippies can’t wait another minute to see who’s won the Field to Frier industry award!

T Babylones to

Chipping Pota

lon

Join the Baby Empire

he National Fish and Chip Awards recently revealed the five UK chip shops it believes to be a cut above the rest in the 2024 Field to Frier category. The category is proudly championed by Isle of Ely Produce and Agrico UK’s latest fantastic chipping variety Babylon. Potato proficiency has been under close examination for the five fish and chip businesses in Durham, Devon, Wales and Scotland which have done a stellar job in demonstrating their preparation and storage methods, knowledge regarding seasonality of varieties, how to make the tastiest chips, and more. An insider panel of potato professionals have made the assessments rigorous to spur businesses on with surpassing their current standards and reaching for new heights. The next round of the judging process will see the finalists having virtual interviews with industry specialists to determine which three chip shops will be invited to the awards ceremony on 28 February at the Park Plaza Westminster where the Field to Frier champ will be revealed.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

TOP 5

FIELD TO FRIER

Hoping to ‘smash’ the competition are: County Durham Bells Fish and Chips, Durham Devon Pier Point Fish and Chips, Torquay Wales Ship Deck, Caerphilly Finney’s Fish and Chips, Benllech Scotland The Fish Works, Largs Rooting for the chip shops is Andrew Crook, president at the National Federation of Fish Friers, organiser of the awards, who says: “Being able to cook a chip perfectly requires a tremendous amount of expertise in selecting the most appropriate variety that will deliver on taste, texture and visual appeal, as well as having top notch cooking capabilities to keep customers coming back. “There’s so much to learn about the humble potato and these five businesses

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

have shown a level of care and attention to detail which is reflected in the great success they are all experiencing in the industry and within their communities.” Field to Frier is sponsored by Isle of Ely Produce, which supplies over two million bags of potatoes to the fish and chip industry annually. Also supporting the category is award partner Agrico and its Babylon variety - a newcomer in the potato game which is proving to be a hit with UK chippies. Alex Moore, sales manager for Agrico, comments: “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 of the Field to Frier Award at the 2024 National Fish and Chip Awards and wish all of the five listed shops the best of luck. We also look forward to working with the shops and sending them some Babylon to trial.” Isle of Ely Director Oliver Boutwood adds: “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 any given time will help us all to serve great chips every time.”

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

For more information on the National Fish and Chip Awards, please visit: www.thefishandchipawards.com. About Isle of Ely Produce Isle of Ely Produce supplies over 2 million bags of potatoes into the UK’s fish and chip shops a year! That’s around 70 million portions of chips. It has strong links to hundreds of growers and has educated thousands of chip shops on potato choice, storage and much more via its Field to Frier platform. It has seen strong growth recently in the export of potatoes to Europe and further afield. www.isleofely.co.uk About Agrico UK - Babylon Agrico UK offers new and innovative varieties of potatoes of proven quality, developed to meet both the present and future demands of the UK market. Babylon is one of the latest varieties winning praise from many of the UK’s best fish and chip shops. Babylon is proud to be the joint sponsor of the Field to Frier Award. www.agrico.co.uk Babylon has been fried and tried by chip ambassadors from all over the UK including the current Field to Frier Champions, The Real Food Café in Tyndrum. If you would like to trial babylon, please email austen@chippychat.co.uk Good Luck to all of the finalists

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 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 • January 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 • January 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’.

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

WE'RE BA CK IN BON NIE SCOTL THE TRADE S AND WITH HOW FOR F ISH & CHIP AND FOOD , TAKEAW ! Date the e Sav SERVICE P AY ROFESSIO NALS!

3rd Ma

rch 2024 • Royal High land Centre, 10am - 4pm Edinburgh, EH28 8NB We're plann in

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It’s a Fair Cop! Frozen at sea fish come from healthy and well managed stocks By Julie Waites

he Frozen At Sea Fillets Association (FASFA) members ensure a high quality, low carbon footprint product is delivered to the UK market in the most efficient manner. Julie Waites, Executive Director for FASFA explains more: Seafood plays a key role in improving access to healthy diets while providing food products with relatively low rates of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2021 the UK hosted COP26; and discussions took place into one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, which is global food production. This is estimated to produce 21-37% of the total human-created greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Of this, 9-14% is attributed to crop and livestock production, and 4% to seafood production. The recent COP28 has announced a new major declaration on the future of food, which is a huge step as it’s the first ever leaders’ declaration on food at one of these COP climate summits. It includes how we reduce food loss and waste. We know that the cod and haddock on which British Fish and Chip shops depend on, are harvested in a responsible and sustainable manner, which is backed by rigorous scientific research. Frozen at Sea (FAS) comes from the deep cold clear waters of the North Atlantic and the Barents Sea, these are the biggest cod and haddock stocks in the world and the greatest source of supply to the UK market. These stocks remain healthy and are well managed. Frozen at sea fillets are caught and processed within four hours of being caught, locking in the fresh quality and nutrients. When Fish and Chip shops use FAS they are also reducing waste, and can just defrost the amount they require. Wild-capture seafood production in

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

general has a much lower carbon footprint than most land-based meat production, and some plant protein sources, including tofu, grains and pulses. This confirms that our sustainably managed Frozen at Sea fillets represent a climate-smart food source, with new technology and innovation, hybrid engines and power regeneration. Helping to assist with reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, or for the UN 2050. The Frozen at Sea Fillets Association are proud of the fact that the Frozen at Sea cod and haddock going into the UK’s Fish and Chip shops already has a low carbon footprint and businesses are committed to reduce emissions further. This includes enhancing fuel efficiency through innovations in vessel design and fishing practices which will help to minimise emissions. Investment in newly built modern vessels, with state-of-the-art technology, has been seen right across the FAS fleet recently. This includes a hybrid approach, with the redistribution of heat generated through the main engine being used to heat the crew cabins. Electricity is also produced onboard whilst the trawl winches are in the recuperation mode. They are also leading the way with catch welfare. Frozen at Sea fillets continue to be caught in line with scientific and legislative recommendations, so you can be sure that your favourite Fish and Chip supper, can be eaten with a clear conscience now and into the future. For more information on FASFA and its members, please visit www.fasfa.co.uk

Julie will be writing a regular column in Chippy Chat in 2024

Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024

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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • January 2024