The entry opening kicks off nine months of searching for the UK’s best fish and chip businesses, and will celebrate the awards’ 30 years in celebrating the country’s top chippies and other outlets serving the traditional dish.
The awards have 14 categories overall, but the highest honour is the Independent Takeaway Fish and Chop Shop of the Year Award, which in 2017 was awarded to Nikki Mutton and Craig Maw of Kingfisher Fish & Chips in Plympton, Plymouth.
The awards commend fish and chips shops for their fish frying skills, as well as good customer service, marketing, sustainability practices, and healthy eating information.
There is also an award for the best young fish frier (for those aged 25 or under), and also a School Meal Education prize for catering operators that serve fish and chips cooked in a healthy way to school pupils.
All information about the categories, and how to enter, is available to view on the Awards website.
“Since the competition began all those years ago, the fish and chip industry has changed dramatically,” says Marcus Coleman, chief executive at Seafish. “We still have our traditional ‘chippies’ but fish and chips can now also be enjoyed through many other types of outlet with bars, restaurants, supermarket cafes and mobile vans offering high quality, delicious, fish and chips.
“The overall fish and chip sector has seen a substantial rise in innovation as businesses venture beyond the norm to diversify their food offerings and improve how they communicate. The range of award categories open for entry has grown in direct response to these innovations, with a category available for every fish and chip business, big or small.”
Seafish was founded in 1981 by an act of parliament, and seeks to supports the UK seafood industry for a profitable, sustainable and socially responsible future.