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Concern as fish prices 'escalating very quickly'

Bea Swallow
BBC News, West of England
Getty Plate of fish and chips on a wooden table, with someone holding the fish about to eat it.Getty
Some fish and chip shop owners have seen their outgoings rise by 50% in one year

Fish and chip shop owners have voiced their concern as their costs have been "escalating very quickly".

Steve Webb, who runs Buckles in Chippenham, Wiltshire, said he has been forced to increase prices by 10% (from 9.30p to 11.20p) to cover rising costs of fresh produce.

The National Federation of Fish Friers said the market is growing more "competitive" after the amount of cod allowed to be caught in key areas such as Barents Sea has been cut by almost two-thirds.

Mr Webb: "I know in three months time I'm going to have to put the fish prices up again and that really concerns me. People have only got a certain amount of money in their pocket."

He is now looking at "creative ways" to balance the books, including reducing energy use, and using bycatch as an alternative menu item.

Andrew Crook, from the National Federation of Fish Friers, said companies faced limits to how much cod they can catch in key fishing waters like the Pacific and Arctic Oceans.

"The Barents Sea quarter has actually been reduced over the last four years, going down from a million tonnes of allowable catch to 340,000 tonnes," he said.

"Obviously a lot of fish goes to the Mediterranean, South America and America. It's a global commodity and we've got to try and compete to buy that fish.

"As an industry we're very reliant on cod and haddock but unfortunately the price of wholesale is escalating very quickly, so it's going to be a painful year for shop owners."

Steve Webb Steve Webb wearing a green cap and green t-shirt underneath a blue and white striped apron. He is standing beside silver fryers behind the counter at Buckles fish and chip shop. Steve Webb
Fish and chip shop owner Steve Webb says they have come up with "creative" solutions to the shortage

Mr Webb said this year alone, outgoing costs have increased by an "eye-watering 50%".

"We're in an industry where the first 20% of the price you're paying is going to the government for VAT," he explained.

Steve Webb Steve Webb wearing a green cap and green t-shirt underneath a blue and white striped apron. He is holding a tray of raw fish and is about to dip one in hot batter. He is standing behind the counter at Buckles fish and chip shop in the kitchen area, next to metallic silver equipment and fryers. Steve Webb
Mr Webb says they aim to "retain the quality and portion size our customers expect"

Mr Webb said customers have been "fairly understanding" about the price increase, but he predicted a decline in sales as "people think a little bit harder" about splurging on a takeaway.

"As an industry and a country we have to say 'look, this is a high-quality product. Let's celebrate it but maybe not quite as often'," he said.

"We'll be creative and positive, and hopefully the community comes along with us."

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