A third of fish and chip shops could be at risk of closure due to food shortages caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, industry leaders have warned. The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) has called on the Government to "act now" to prevent "long-term damage" to the popular takeaways, Sky News reports.
The UK is reliant on both Russia and Ukraine for the four key ingredients of Britain's national dish, with shortages forcing outlets to change menus, increase prices - or ultimately face closure.
The NFFF said 50% of oil used by the UK's chippies comes from Ukraine - with alternatives such as rapeseed and palm oil becoming more expensive, while up to 40% of cod and haddock comes from Russia, with sanctions hitting North Sea supplies. Meanwhile, fertiliser for potatoes - mainly from Russia - has tripled in price, while Russia also provides much of the flour used to make batter.
NFFF president Andrew Crook told Sky News many of his members think those in power "do not care" about the potential harm his sector faces, saying: "Act now! We need action before long-term damage is done that can't be repaired. We aren't after handouts. We are a proud industry. But a lot of businesses will go to the wall and we need a long-term strategy to see us through."
James Lipscombe, who owns 40 fish and chip shops across the country, said he had diversified his stock range - adding less-known fish to the menu, like hake - to offer his regular customers affordable meals.
He told Sky News: "I've never seen anything like it. I'm seeing a swathe of fish and chip shop closures across the UK. Week on week I'm seeing shops close and it's a really sad state of affairs."
He added: "We've done this as a really long time as a family. Nearly 100 years we've been involved in this industry. It's sad to see what's happening, through no fault of these businesses."
A Government spokesperson said it will "continue to speak with the industry body, the National Federation of Fish Friers, and other sector representatives about current pressures they face".
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