economy
Can the UK kick its cod habit? Fish and chip shop favourite slips down the menu as prices soar
The cost of the traditional takeaway has doubled since 2019, and more outlets are trying to tempt customers with cheaper options such as coley, pollack and hake
TL;DR
- The average cost of fish and chips has risen from £6.48 in 2019 to £11.17.
- Factors contributing to price increases include Brexit, dwindling fish populations, pandemic inflation, and the war in Ukraine.
- Fish and chip shops are increasingly offering alternatives to cod and haddock, such as coley, pollack, hake, monkfish, plaice, sea bass, and hoki.
- Some customers are open to trying new fish, with positive feedback reported by shop owners.
- Sustainability and overfishing concerns are also driving some businesses to remove cod and haddock.
- The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) reports that almost half of owners are extremely worried about the future, and hundreds of shops are up for sale.
- Alternative fish like hake are often imported from countries like South Africa, while hoki comes from New Zealand, and coley from Norway and Iceland.
- While cod and haddock still dominate sales, the popularity of alternatives is gradually increasing.