Shops vow to keep prices low despite ever-increasing energy and supply costs
CHIP shop owners across Burton have vowed to keep the quality and portion sizes the same, despite battling with rocketing prices of fish and cooking oil, coupled with an increase in gas and electricity prices.
It comes as they marked National Fish and Chip Day yesterday, and are urging people in the town to support them by making today a ‘chippy tea’.
Chip shops around Burton say they have seen electricity and gas prices increase due to the cost of living crisis, saying Russia’s war with Ukraine has also pushed up the cost of potatoes, oil, batter and fish.
George Andreou, owner of the Wetmore Road Fish Bar, said: “We love seeing all the regulars every week, we have a strong customer base and friends and we know many people by first names.
“I know what time so and so will be coming in. I definitely have chips running through my veins. It is very cultural in the UK. People say ‘my chippy’.
“We have a more hands-on relationship with customers as opposed to supermarkets. We have a lot of passion for it, even during the current hardship that we are seeing such as the price of cooking oil doubling, the price of some fish tripling, but we will not cut back on quality.
“The national fish and chip day is always a positive, even with the hardship.”
Steve Serghi, owner of Wyggeston Street fish bar, in Horninglow, is also feeling the pinch and issued a plea to the Government to do more to help chip shops.
He said: “My parents came from Cyprus in 1962 and eventually set up a chip shop in Edward Street which they ran for 30 years.
“I went into the trade because I thought it was a good trade to be in, but today we are struggling with electricity prices going up, the cost of fish tripling.
“We were recently told our gas company was ceasing trading, so found a new one and the best they could offer was a 143 per cent increase. We have no help from the Government.
“They have help for the domestic consumer, but nothing for commercial. The small and medium companies need help. The electricity prices are stupid.
“I don’t want increase prices in my shop but they [the sellers] can do whatever they want.
“It is a nightmare. We are trying to keep the quality and quantity the same.”
Margherita Constantinou, who runs Queen’s Fish Bar, in West Street, Winshill with her husband Mario, is hoping National Fish and Chip Day will give people “a nudge” to come through their doors.
She said: “Both me and Mario are third generation chippies. Our grandparents and parents all ran chip shops, so it is our blood.
“It is a traditional cuisine in the UK. It has been around for years and should be celebrated.
“We are steady all through the year with customers, and maybe the national day will give people a nudge and use it as an excuse for some fish and chips.”