With the prices of fish, oil, flour and potatoes soaring as a result of the war in Ukraine, it is becoming increasingly difficult for British fish-and-chip restaurants to continue offering the deep-fried speciality. According to the professional association National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), there is a real chance that one in three cases will have to close this year.
The United Kingdom is mainly dependent on Ukraine for sunflower oil. About 50 percent of the oil used by British fish-and-chip shops comes from there, the NFFF says. However, sunflower oil prices have risen by 83 percent in recent months. The prices of alternatives such as rapeseed oil and palm oil are therefore also rising.
In addition, about 40 percent of cod and haddock used come from Russia, but fears that the United Kingdom will impose sanctions on Russian fish imports is making fish from European fishermen more expensive. Fertilizers for potatoes – mainly from Russia – have also tripled in price, and the flour used for the mash also comes from the region.
As a result, there is a global shortage of key ingredients, driving costs up and shrinking profit margins. According to the NFFF, which represents 1,200 businesses, most fish and chip restaurants are forced to adjust their menus, raise their prices, or in the worst-case scenario, close their doors.
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We run the risk of pricing ourselves out of the market. We try to keep price increases as low as possible.
Customers expect their fish and chips to be cheap, said Andrew Crook, president of the NFFF. A year ago you paid about 7 British pounds for chips with cod (about 8.3 euros). In the meantime, that is about £8.50 (about 10 euros), or an increase of 21 percent. “We run the risk of pricing ourselves out of the market. We try to keep the price increases as low as possible,” said Crook.
At the same time, many consumers are tightening their belts as annual inflation in the UK is already at its highest level in thirty years. That in turn could have an impact on the demand for fish and chips.
Crook calls on the government to take urgent measures. “We need to act now before long-term damage is done that cannot be repaired,” he says. “We are not after alms. We are a proud industry. But many companies will die and we need a long-term strategy to get us through it.”
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