Fish and chip shops in England are facing a looming shortage of mushy peas, a key menu item, adding to the industry's mounting challenges. The warning comes from the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), which surveyed 105 businesses and found that nearly 45 per cent of chip shop owners were "extremely worried" about the future.
Weather impact on crops
NFFF President Andrew Crook highlighted the vulnerability of pea and potato supplies to adverse weather. "It's just one more thing on top of the rest. Everywhere we look there's a challenge," he said. "Peas and potatoes, we rely on them. The weather has a massive impact on those things. We are expecting a bad year on both." He added: "We're expecting an expensive year. Everything's stacked against us."
Nutritional and financial strain
Crook emphasised the importance of peas for the classic dish: "With peas, it's another blow. Peas are important for fish and chips. It's one of your five a day, which makes it a nutritionally balanced meal." He noted that "everybody's costs have gone up. Everybody's feeling the pain."
Survey reveals industry anxiety
The NFFF survey, presented to the Department for Business and Trade, also found that one in 10 chip shop owners planned to leave the trade within the next 12 months. An elderly owner shared: "I think I could go bankrupt soon unless I start working (replacing staff) for 60 plus hours per week. I am 75 years old and should be able to afford some sort of easier life, but it's getting harder and harder." Another said "margins are tighter than they've ever been."
VAT disparity and pricing pressures
Katrina Hasanbasoglu, who runs the award-winning Makerel Sky in Stamford Bridge, east of York, pointed out the VAT burden on hospitality. "Hospitality has always been an industry where we pay more VAT than we claim back. Other industries, they'll buy something with VAT on it… but they can claim a massive amount back on the original VAT that they bought the raw product." She also addressed customer perceptions: "Unfortunately, people always say that fish and chips is a working man's meal. They go to a pub and they'll pay £35 to £40 for a steak, but they won't pay £12 for fish and chips." She stressed: "Fish and chip shops aren't here to rip you off. They do have expenses, and if a fish and chip shop charges a certain amount for fish and chips, that means they've looked at it and that's what they need to make a sustainable business."
