Sheesh, who’d have thought it: why the kebab is now king of the high street
IT’S the post-pub favourite seen as the ultimate in bad diet choices – but the humble, or is that hideous, kebab is now being claimed as a great British institution. It may sound crazy but the Prime Minister – yes, the actual Prime Minister of the UK, Theresa May – is falling over herself to be associated with today’s British Kebab Awards. Some 1,200 guests including more than 300 MPs, Lords, baronesses and councillors, and 800 businesses and community representatives will attend the VIP-studded ceremony.
The Prime Minister is among the luminaries who have embraced the kebab and looked to have their names associated with the industry awards.
In a letter to the awards, May wrote: “The awards are a tremendous opportunity to celebrate the thriving British kebab industry, which continues to make an important contribution to the UK’s food and drink economy.
“High streets across the UK benefit from having a successful kebab restaurant situated on them.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also lent his support, saying: “From takeaway to fine dining, kebabs are a firm favourite and an established part of our national cuisine.”
It has emerged that such is the growth of the kebab, the numbers of outlets is coming close to equalling the total number of chip shops and curry houses put together.
Ibrahim Dogus, the founder and director of the Centre for Turkey Studies and Development (CTSD), the first non-party political forum and think tank focusing exclusively on Turkey and the UK, believes that the kebab must now be considered as a British national dish alongside fish and chips and chicken tikka masala. Dogus is also the founder of the kebab awards.
The industry says there are now over 20,000 kebab outlets in the UK, while there are 10,500 fish and chips shops and 12,000 curry restaurants.
Research has revealed that the UK kebab industry now contributes £2.8 billion to the British economy, £500 million more than four years ago. In Scotland, wholesalers say the number of shops selling kebabs has risen six-fold in the past 10 years as shops clamour to fulfil the country’s appetite for the pitta pocket – fuelled by a budget-conscious nation.
Growth of the greasy grilled meat dish emerged as Britain’s “prima doners” prepared to do battle to be crowned winner of the British Kebab Awards 2017 today.
The fifth annual awards ceremony includes a competition for the best Scottish kebab.
This spicy processed meat snack has come a long way since research by the UK’s Food Standards Agency in 2006 found that 18.5 per cent of doner takeaways posed a “significant” threat to public health, and 0.8 per cent posed an “imminent” threat. Then, trading standards officers found doners with up to 22 per cent fat and up to 12g of salt – that’s two heaped teaspoons, double the recommended daily intake.