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Chippies Seek New Fish as Cod & Haddock Prices Soar
16 Feb
Summary
- Fish and chip shops are exploring new fish types due to rising cod and haddock costs.
- Tilapia is a popular, affordable alternative, costing £5 compared to cod's £9.40.
- Hake, pollock, and saithe are also considered sustainable and flavourful replacements.
Fish and chip businesses across Fenland are expanding their sourcing options to find more economical fish, as the prices for cod and haddock continue to climb. Reductions in Barents Sea cod stocks have created supply chain challenges, prompting a search for alternatives.
Miguel Costa, proprietor of Riverside fish and chip shop in March, Cambridgeshire, has been successfully offering tilapia. Initially met with skepticism, customers have embraced the new option, with Costa noting no one has requested a refund after trying it. He highlights tilapia's affordability, selling a large portion for £5, a stark contrast to the £9.40 charged for cod.
Other shop owners are also championing different species. Mark Petrou of Chatteris's Petrou Brothers shop suggests hake, pollock, and saithe as strong contenders to eventually replace cod. Petrou points out that cod wasn't the original fish served in chippies, with dab being a historical favorite, and emphasizes that hake is a more sustainable and cost-effective choice.
Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, confirms that many establishments are now incorporating alternative fish to supplement cod and haddock. He notes that species like hake, pollock, and saithe offer excellent flavor and are often underutilized, allowing for lower price points. Tilapia and Pangasius (Basa), typically farmed in Asia, are also proving to be successful and much cheaper wholesale alternatives.
