A third of chippies could face the prospect of having to close due to food shortages, business leaders have warned.
The ongoing war in Ukraine has had a knock-on effect on the food industry, not least the items fish and chip shops routinely need. The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) has said that four of the key ingredients are in short supply, leading to a crisis in the industry.
Sunflower oil is one of the worst affected products, with the UK heavily reliant on getting its supply from Ukraine. It is believed around half of the oil used in chippies comes from Ukraine.
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Around 40% of cod and haddock is sourced from Russia and ongoing sanctions are making it more difficult to get hold of - and driving the price up. Fertiliser and flour are among other products affected.
The surge in prices is having a catastrophic affect on profit margins and putting many fish and chip shops under huge financial pressure. Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, has called for action from the Government. He told Sky News: "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."
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