Need to know as conventional Good Friday meal soars in value after chippies battered by warfare

Need to know

The president of Britain’s National Federation of Fish Fryers is the latest expert to warn that the Great British chippie could be under serious threat, as a result of chaos in the Middle East

NEED TO KNOW: Fish and chips under threat as Iran war hits Britain’s beloved chippies

• Britain’s beloved fish and chip shops are facing a crisis as supply chain issues from Trump’s war in Iran threaten the traditional Good Friday dinner.
• The UK’s National Federation of Fish Fryers president Andrew Crook has warned that rising costs will pile pressure on independent chippies ahead of the Easter bank holiday. Small shops are being priced out as packaging costs from China soar and companies favour bulk purchases from chain brands.
• “I think people are just waking up to it now, that it is potentially a sizable problem for companies that transport fish in containers,” Crook told The Times. He warned that fish supplies could be hit as fishermen struggle with boat fuel costs that have jumped following the Iran conflict and closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
• Chippies are already squeezed by growing energy prices and the cost of living crisis. Insolvency specialist Molly Monks warned they could be badly hit as they rely on energy-intensive cooking and frequent deliveries.
• “Fish and chip shops typically operate on relatively tight margins, so even modest increases in fuel, oil or electricity costs can quickly start to bite,” she said. Transport costs are another hidden pressure when fuel prices rise.
• Fisherman Peter Bruce revealed a 100% increase in fuel costs had forced him to cut wages. “It’s quite scary really, it’s going to cost us £150,000 extra for fuel for a year,” he said.
• The crisis threatens the viability of the entire British fishing industry as multiple costs rise simultaneously.
• READ THE FULL STORY: Chippies battered by Iran war as traditional Good Friday meal soars in price