The global whitefish supply chain has also been under significant pressure in recent years due to Covid (global impact) and EU Exit (UK impact). Recently there have been constraints on production in parts of China as some of the seafood processing hubs (Zhuanghe, Dalian) were put into lockdown in December and are only now reopening. This has constrained the volume of processed seafood available and ongoing logistic issues in the shipping and freight sector are further delaying supplies reaching the UK. It’s Not Just Fish Exports And it’s not just whitefish imports that are affected. Russia and Ukraine combined produce a quarter of the global wheat supplies, any disruption to this supply will affect the production of the batter and the breadcrumbs used by fish and chip shops, and frozen fish products sold in supermarkets and restaurants. Ukraine is also the main global producer of sunflower oil and while there are other vegetable oils available (rapeseed etc.) disruptions to market supply, price increases and production challenges will be inevitable as businesses seek to access and use alternative products. This will impact everything from fish
Grab & Go Opportunities According to Bartlett Mitchell, demand for quick and convenient lunches prior to the Pandemic was in growth, with grab and go sales estimated to be worth £20bn in 2018 and making up 70% of all lunchtime choices. And streetdots.co.uk, a business that finds street food pitches, is in agreement - according to them, the UK food-to-go market is worth £20bn annually and street food alone contributes £2bn.*
fingers to fish and chips to tinned mackerel and tuna.
or any food outlet, a grab & go menu offers the opportunity to sell dishes to take-away where
Exports to Russia and Ukraine from the UK
seating may be limited, or time may be constrained
There has been limited export trade to Russia following the trade ban in 2014. However, there is a sizeable pelagic trade with the Ukraine. In 2020 the UK exported £25m worth of pelagic product. There are also some exports of salmon. This product will now need to find alternative markets.
for the consumer, but operators shouldn’t be concerned about the need to invest in multiple items of equipment in order to provide a wide range of hot items. The Panasonic NE-SCV2 speed convection oven can replace the need for several items of light equipment as it will grill, toast, bake, re-heat, cook, brown, fry, poach, etc., and doesn’t
Sanctions, trade disruption and price rises
need extraction, therefore can be located anywhere, in the
While no formal sanctions or trade measures against
smallest of establishment, so toasted sandwiches, baked
seafood have been put in place, the current global
potatoes, pastry goods, even chips, can be offered.
situation is expected to result in significant disruption
Jared Greenhalgh, Business Development Manager,
to UK seafood processing; rising fuel prices, delays to
Panasonic UK; “We’ve seen some imaginative uses for our
supplies, competition for product. This inevitably will
microwaves such as making lemons more squeezable and
result in cost increases and are expected to translate
even disinfecting chopping boards, but when it comes to
into higher food prices for consumers. It is impossible to
grab & go, microwaves will re-heat quickly from fresh or
predict how much prices will rise by, but they could be as
frozen, save on energy costs and can result in less waste.
high as 20-30%.
When used for reheating, wet foods such as lasagne or
UK seafood businesses understand how difficult this will
chilli do best, and you can even cook items from scratch
be, particularly for low-income families who are already
such as sponge puddings and brownies as they only take
struggling, so there is a great deal of work happening by
minutes!”
businesses to find ways to minimise the impact this will have on consumers. We’re working with the seafood industry to support
*https://www.streetdots.co.uk/2019/11/21/mobiletrading-trends-2020/ To find out more about the range of Panasonic
them with any changes they may want to make to their
microwave ovens, call 01344 862444
supply chains in light of this situation.
or go to www.panasonic.co.uk/pro-cooking
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Fastfood Professional • April and May 2022
April and May 2022 • Fastfood Professional
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