The cost of fish and chips has surged more than 50% in the UK over the past five years, making it the takeaway with the biggest price hike, according to recent data.
The average price of a portion has risen to nearly £10, outpacing the price increases for kebabs and pizza.
Chip shop owners, like Jon Long of Long John’s Fish and Chips in Dorset, blame a “perfect storm” of rising costs, including energy bills, tariffs on seafood imports, and poor potato harvests due to extreme weather.
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Jon, who has been in the business for over 30 years, describes the current economic environment as the toughest he’s ever faced, with rising energy charges being his primary concern.
Despite the challenges, he believes that while fish and chips are no longer a cheap meal, they still offer good value.
The increase in fish and chips prices is partly due to a 35% tariff on Russian seafood imports, imposed by the UK government in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Additionally, extreme weather has significantly reduced potato harvests across Europe, causing a dramatic rise in potato prices.
According to Cedric Porter, a potato market expert, the shortage has led to higher prices for UK farmers, further contributing to the rising costs.
Angela Cartwright, owner of Kingfisher Fish Bar in Salford, expressed her frustration over the misconception that fish and chips should be a cheap meal, noting that customers are willing to pay more for pizza but balk at the higher cost of traditional fish and chips.
Jon Long echoed these sentiments, saying that many small businesses are struggling to stay afloat due to the increasing costs.
Energy costs, particularly standing charges, have been a significant burden for chip shops. Jon criticized the energy regulator Ofgem for not doing enough to protect small businesses from these rising fees.
Ofgem has since introduced new rules aimed at ensuring fairer treatment for businesses, but high energy bills remain a major concern for many.
The UK government has defended the tariffs on Russian imports, stating that they are necessary, and pledged to support local takeaways by reforming business rates.
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