Fish and chips give recession a battering
They helped us to victory in the last war -- and now they are helping us to defeat the downturn.
Always battered, never bettered: the mighty fish supper.
Fish suppers are giving the recession a battering as customers opt for a takeaway rather than eating out.
The original fast food, which was never rationed during the war, is also cashing in as the downturn evokes memories of more austere childhoods and recollections of traditional comfort food.
Stuart Atkinson's North Street chip shop in Forfar has seen such buoyant trade that he has taken on another member of staff. And Mike Orsi, of Cairnie chip shop in Arbroath, says trade is up as customers downsize from restaurant meals.
Giulio Dora, whose family have run chip shops in Dundee for 120 years, has also detected the nostalgic dash to traditional fare.
Meanwhile Bill Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, said UK-wide figures show a sharp rise in fish suppers. There has even been an upturn in fish-frying range sales as laid-off workers look for a sound business model, said Leeds-based Mr Crook.
However, he warned that rising fish, potato and oil prices, coupled with the January VAT rise, could see the price of a fish supper rise.
"At £5.10 the fish supper remains great value," said Stuart Atkinson, who has been in business for 22 years. "There has always been a correlation between wages and the fish supper and we maintained that link in the days of the old wages council and have kept below the minimum wage.
"Sales are holding up very well and we have even taken on another part-time staff member," he said.
"In the recession, people are remembering the harder times when they were younger and the smell of a fish supper brings some nostalgic comfort."
In October, Stuart marked 150 years of fish and chips by selling 800 fish suppers at £1.50.
According to Mr Crook, the latest figures available -- for 2009 -- show a 3% rise in fish and chip sales and the federation is now awaiting the 2010 results with great interest.
"Research among our members paints a healthy picture," he said. "There has also been a sharp rise in ranges sold and our own training course, which is normally low in December, is fully booked and almost booked out for January.
"Fish suppers outsell other fast foods four to one. They are affordable and nutritious."
Mike Orsi said he always points out the benefits of fish and chips to customers.
"It is made up of natural products from the sea and the ground and, if cooked properly, a fish supper is a nutritious meal," he said.
And Giulio Dora is experiencing an upturn at Dora's in Stobswell, Dundee, after a quieter year.
"There is less money going about Dundee with so many redundancies. People are eating out less but a fish supper remains an affordable treat. And you've no dishes to do," he added.
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