The Man That Makes a Meal out of Chips

Fish and chips is a loved favourite amongst Brits, a nostalgic comfort that families connect with. Whether enjoyed as a Friday night tea or a lunchtime treat, almost everyone h

The Man That Makes a Meal out of Chips

Awesome Chips has successful stores in Leicester, Birmingham and London. We spoke to Roni Dalal, founder and CEO to find out more about the man who makes a meal out of chips and the recent push to grow Awesome Chips as a franchise.

Q) How did Awesome Chips come about?

I’d always wanted to find and share a recession proof business. I came across frites stands while travelling in Holland and Belgium and I thought of chips. They are chips but not as we know them! People say we are now revolutionising the chip market in the UK, but I see our double fried, fresh, crispy fries served up with any of our 35 spices, rubs and sauces as an entirely different offering to traditional English chips.

Q) How do you make a meal out of chips?

We’ve worked to create some awesome meal choices. We started out putting sauces on top of our crispy fries but some of our ethnic customers asked for them to be mixed in. They tasted incredible and now most customers ask for our sauces and spices to be mixed with their chips.

We also like to get creative with how we serve our fries. Our Chip Burritos make a superb wrap filled with chips, cheese and a choice of sauces. Our Pizza Fries are incredibly popular too, topped and baked with mozzarella cheese. Our Twisters are potato spiral chips on a stick which are popular with kids or those that prefer a smaller portion.

Q) I hear the secret is all in the potatoes – what’s different?

It’s true, I’ve developed a passion for potatoes! Our search for the perfect spud took us to Belgium and Holland, and we selected a particular, yellow-skinned potato which is dense and creamy. If we cooked a Maris Piper in the way that we do, it would burn, but the variety we chose goes crispy on the outside while retaining the perfect soft inner. The taste is also amazing. It’s hard to explain, but there is more flavour, which lasts longer when you eat it.

Q) How much does the whole store experience influence sales?

We’ve created a theatre for our customers. They can see the potatoes being cut, fresh-fried and served right through from start to finish. Each Awesome Chips franchised store now gets through around three tonnes of potatoes per week!

The fun comes when customers can customize their meal, from deciding which spices or sauce to add to whether it is mixed in or put on top. Fries are served in funky cones and the upbeat music creates a fun atmosphere. It’s about the whole experience and this attracts more customers. Sometimes customers even dance while waiting for their chips!”

Q) Why have you recently added Vegan burgers to the menu?

My family and I have been vegetarians for about ten years now. Morally we don’t want to sell meat and make money literally off the back of our animal friends. We’ve now added a Vegan Chicken-style burger, Cheeseburger plus Vegan Wings to our menu, served up in special buns we bake in-house, and seasoned with our sauces.

Q) What are your plans for the future?

Sales continue to grow, and we have five new franchised stores set to open before the end of 2023. We are continuing to invite applications from potential franchisees to help expand the brand further.

For further information about this new awesome franchise opportunity please see: www.awesomechips.com

Christian Chramer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council

Being a CEO brings both its trials and tribulations. Christian Charmer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council, reflects on the first six months in his new role

The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) works together with the Norwegian fisheries and aquaculture industry to develop markets for Norwegian seafood. The aim of the organisation is to increase the value of Norwegian seafood resources, through market insights, market development, market risk management and reputational risk management in select markets around the world.

Last year, by unanimous decision, the board of the Norwegian Seafood Council appointed Christian Chramer as CEO and he has been at the helm since October. The first six months bedding in as a CEO is a very important period for both the individual and the business, as it’s these crucial few months that set the tone for your tenure and potentially impact your effectiveness as a leader. It is the time when you really get to know an organisation, and, in turn, they get to know you.