The 2019 National Fish & Chip Awards are now open for entry with the quest now on to find the champion businesses that will be crowned at the grand final ceremony in London in January next year.
Run by Seafish, the public body that supports the £6bn UK Seafood Industry, the National Fish & Chip Awards are widely regarded as the Oscars of the fish and chip world, with 14 different award categories recognising the best of the best.
As well as the fish and chips, the awards celebrate operators who run their businesses sustainably, display marketing innovation and focus on staff and product development.
To find the best in the industry, a team of experienced judges travel the UK to mystery dine and appraise the operational practices of respective fish and chip businesses.
Fish and chips aren’t just one of the UK’s favourite foods; they’re an institution.
From being one of the few fares not rationed during the Second World War, to a favourite snack of The Beatles, fish and chips are an integral part of British culture.
For the past 30 years Seafish has celebrated the best of the best across the UK’s fish and chips sector, including takeaways, restaurants, pubs, cafes, canteens and mobile operators who serve up the tastiest and most sustainable fish and chips.
Andy Gray, Trade Marketing Manager at Seafish, said: “The annual awards program provides an excellent opportunity to reward and celebrate the businesses and individuals throughout the UK that are serving fantastic fish and chips and providing customers with great eating and dining experiences.
“As a nation, we eat in the region of 382 million portions of fish and chips every year so shops and restaurants that are successful in the awards can take pride in the fact that they are amongst the crème de la crème when it comes to fish and chip businesses.
“Everyone has a favourite fish and chip shop and we are asking the public to make sure their favourite gets the recognition it deserves by encouraging them to enter the awards.”
Being judged as a finalist in the awards, particularly in the flagship Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award, has seen businesses experience turnover increases by as much as 100%. This year’s Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award champions, father and son David and Nick Miller from Millers Fish & Chips in Haxby, North Yorkshire have been on a roll since picking up the title in January, going on to experience success in the in the Taste of England category as part of the recent Visit England Awards for Excellence.
They said: “When we heard Millers Fish & Chips had been announced as the UK’s best fish and chip takeaway it was a really special moment for our family. It felt absolutely amazing and the feedback from our customers, industry friends and partners ever since has been nothing short of incredible."
“We’ve been busier than ever before since the award win. It’s had a huge impact on our business. Most importantly, it’s bringing people from all over the country – and even abroad – to our shop in Haxby. To speak to customers and learn that they’ve travelled many hundreds of miles just to sink their teeth into delicious fish and chips makes us feel really proud to serve them."
