Fish and chip sales flourish in credit crunch - 20/01/2009

Fish and chips shops across the UK are profiting from the credit crunch as sales of the nation’s favourite takeaway continue to rise, according to new sales figures released today (15 January) by Seafish, the authority on seafood.

The statistics from Seafish and NPD Crest show total sales at the UK’s 9,500 fish and chip shops rose by 2 per cent last year.

As the credit crunch took hold in the second half of 2008, fish and chip shops recorded sales of £717m in the eight months to November – up from £705m in the same period for 2007. That equates to one in every £100 we spend on food being spent in a fish and chip shop.

And from March to November 2008, there were more than 548 million visits to fish and chip shops – up 5 per cent from 523 million in 2007.

The research suggests that the UK public is opting for value for money takeaways rather than eating out in restaurants. Seafish believes the industry will grow in the coming months as the credit crunch takes hold.

Andy Gray from Seafish said: “The fish and chips industry is, by and large, a network of family-run and independent shops – a sector which is usually at risk in times of recession.

“Fish and chip shops are perfectly placed to prosper in 2009 by offering a quality product that provides great value-for-money.”

This continued rise in sales comes after figures released in July showed a 3.2% increase in custom for the first quarter of 2008 – the first time fish and chip shops have experienced such a rise in five years.

Mark Petrou owns two fish and chip shops, in Ely and Chatteris in Cambridgeshire. Mark was the 2006 winner of the national Fish & Chip Shop of the Year competition and is a finalist again this year. He also owns other businesses in the area. He said: “While trade has definitely dropped off in the local pubs in the past year, demand at the fish and chip shops has been unbelievable with a marked increase in turnover.”

Richard Ord is the owner of Colman’s of South Shields and a finalist in the national competition. Richard said: “The credit crunch is being kind to us. Our customers can have confidence in fish and chips despite what is happening on the high street. Our sales back up the national trend as more and more people look to rely on fish and chips as a pick me up these days.”

-Ends-

Notes to editors
• Andy Gray, Richard Ord and Mark Petrou are all available for further comment.
• Photography of Richard Ord and Mark Petrou at their fish and chip shops is also available.
• A press kit containing background information, celebrity fish and chip fans, fun and quirky stats and a roll of honour of previous competition winners is available.
• The NPD Group's Consumer Reports on Eating Share Trends (CREST®) offers insight on consumer purchases. It tracks purchases in the commercial restaurant industry as well as ready-to-eat foods/beverages purchased from other retail establishments such as convenience and food stores.
The NPD Group Ltd
01932 355 580
• Seafish, the authority on seafood, was founded in 1981 by an act of parliament and supports the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future. Our services range from research and development, economic consulting, market research and training and accreditation through to account management and legislative advice for the seafood industry. www.seafish.org

Issued by
Alison Downs / Phil Addicott / Sarah Ormerod
3x1 Public Relations
0141 221 0707
sormerod@3x1.com / gsmith@3x1.com / paddicott@3x1.com