The traditional Good Friday dinner of fish and chips has taken a battering due to supply chain issues caused by Trump’s war in Iran.
The president of the UK’s National Federation of Fish Fryers Andrew Crook, warned that rising costs would add significant pressure to independent shops ahead of the Easter bank holiday, which is often the busiest period for Britain’s beloved chippies.
Packaging used by oil and container companies is often shipped from China and the increased cost of these shipments is seeing small, independent fish and chip shops priced out, as companies favour large, bulk purchases from chain brands.
Andrew told The Times: “I think people are just waking up to it now, that it is potentially a sizable problem for companies that transport fish in containers. It’s all these global issues that will start coming into play the longer this conflict goes on.”
He also warned that supplies of the fish itself could also be put under real pressure, as fisherman struggle to keep up with the costs of boat fuel, which has jumped following the Iran war and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital passage through which passes cargo ships leaving the oil-rich Gulf Straits. You can read more the effects of its closure here.
It comes as chippies already face a squeeze amid growing energy prices and the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Earlier this month Molly Monks, insolvency specialist at Parker Walsh, warned our chippies could be badly hit as they rely heavily on energy-intensive cooking and frequent deliveries of fresh ingredients.
She told us: “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.
“Frying food commercially requires constant heat. That means businesses are directly exposed when energy prices begin to rise.”
Transport costs are another hidden pressure that can increase rapidly when fuel prices move upwards. She added: “If fuel becomes more expensive, it costs more to move fish, potatoes and supplies across the country.”
She added that the real challenge is that several costs often rise at once rather than individually.
Speaking to The Times, fisherman Peter Bruce said that a 100% increase in fuel costs had forced him cut wages. He said: “It’s going to dramatically reduce the crew’s earnings for a year, and it’s going to eat into the profit from the boat dramatically.
“It’s quite scary really, it’s going to cost us £150,000 extra for fuel for a year. It’s going to have a massive effect on the viability of the Scottish or the British fishing industry.”