The Friers Quality Award scheme has been operating since 1996 and has helped to promote many of the fish and chip shop businesses within the UK.

Further information about the scheme
Friers Checklist
Guidelines for friers checklist
HACCP for friers guidelines
Health and Safety Manual
Health and Safety policy statement
Fire Safety assessment

Why have a Quality Award?
Today’s customers expect and demand high quality standards for product, premises and service. Businesses which can satisfy these requirements obviously have a considerable competitive advantage and the display of an Award, given by an independent body, is an important contribution to increasing consumer confidence in quality standards.

What does the Award stand for?
The Award stands for an assured degree of excellence. It emphasises, to existing and potential customers, the high standards of product, premises and service offered by the holder.

What are the benefits of the Award for you?
Qualification is preceded by an independent confidential report on your business, prepared by knowledgeable, experienced professionals. As an Award holder, you have the opportunity to promote your business as being a member of a prestigious, nationally recognised Quality Award Scheme. The Sea Fish Industry Authority also undertake national promotional activities on behalf of Award holders.

What happens when you apply?
The application/assessment process is as follows:

1) Make an application.
2) Appointment with shop owner.
3) Assessment by Quality Adviser.
4) Discussion of findings.
5) Detailed report.
6) Certificate and logo on qualification.

If a business does not meet the required standards immediately, the detailed report provided will guide the owner to those areas requiring attention in order to qualify. When any necessary remedial action has been implemented, the business can be reassessed. A £100 fee is required to cover the cost of this additional assessment. All assessments and reports are strictly confidential.

How long do you hold the Quality Award for?
Awards are valid for one year and Retention of the Award is dependent upon standards being maintained, as validated by additional inspections by a Quality Adviser.

How much does it cost?
The current annual fee is £250.00 + VAT payable by cheque.

What businesses may apply?
The Award is open to all fish and chip businesses within the UK.

What next?
If you consider that your business produces a first class product in a first class environment, apply now. The potential benefits from participation are enormous.

For more information
If you have any questions about the award contact Jim Hyam on 01472 252 300 or email j_hyam@seafish.co.uk.  It is our role to help you meet the standards for the award, and our advice is free of charge. If you would like to take part in the scheme, please complete the application form and send it to us with your cheque for £293.75.

View the list of current award holders.

 Results of Friers Quality Award survey are now available
 
Results of the recent survey conducted by Seafish questioning members of the Friers Quality Award scheme during the later part of 2007 are now available in report form.
 
A questionnaire was drafted and sent to all members of the Friers Quality Award scheme and included questions that looked at:

-The general business issues of the friers (in the past and looking to the future).
-The benefits of being a member of the friers quality award scheme. 
-How the scheme can be developed for the future. 

The feedback from returned forms was put into an excel spreadsheet and the data analysed.
 
The results clearly shows that the award scheme has the potential to be very beneficial and that those in the scheme find it good value for money. 

To read the report in full please click here.