Delivery app a chip off the block
Traditional fish and chips still win over the hearts of Kiwis, even among those bustling inner-city Wellington diners.
The Chippery’s fresh fish and handcut chips are so popular that office workers sometimes queue out the door for a lunchtime fix.
Now the fastfood eatery has launched an app that will enable customers to place an order from their cellphone.
It can be found on iTunes and Google Play’s Android store, through online ordering is also available from the company website and Facebook page.
The Chippery is also one of the few fish and chip shops to provide a delivery service. Deliveries contribute 20 per cent of its total sales from its two outlets in Thorndon and Mt Victoria.
It has added flair to a classic meal by offering a variety of fish fillets, as well as gourmet fare that includes grilled haloumi burgers with pomegranate molasses, parmesan herb-crusted fish, and customised salads.
Instead of meals being wrapped in newsprint, they are individually packed in small, recyclable cardboard boxes that have been created with breathable holes to keep the food fresh and crisp.
General manager Richard Samways says the option to dine in, take out or have food delivered to the home or office is a great way for his company to cater to a variety of customers.
A family can dine in with each member choosing a different type of meal, but fish and chips are still the main focus for this business. It offers eight types of fresh fish, including kingfish and salmon, and one company director is a commercial fisherman who catches some of the haul himself. ‘‘He primarily goes out fishing for crayfish and blue cod,’’ Samways says. ‘‘He’ll bring that in to us but, obviously, he can’t be out all the time.’’
The business sources additional fresh seafood from other local fishermen, and its eggs and meats are free-range.
As The Chippery makes most of its food and condiments on-site that means fewer preservatives, artificial colours or flavours are used, Samways says.
The company produces aioli, tartare sauce, crumbs and spiced rubs for its meats in-house, but the one thing that remains storebought is tomato sauce. ‘‘We’ll stick with Wattie’s because it’s a brand people expect.’’