As reported by The Telegraph, a new breakdown of inflation data from the Office for National Statistics shows the cost of fish and chips rose by 19% in the year to March.
The dish has seen the largest price increase of any major takeaway category over the past year, with a kilo of potatoes costing 27% more than a year ago and battered white fish up by nearly a third. The cost of oil has also increased by almost 50%.
Around £1.2bn-worth of fish and chips is sold in Britain each year. However, the National Federation of Fish Friers has warned that scores of shops could close because of rapidly climbing costs.
Andrew Crook, the president of the organisation and owner of a fish and chip shop in Lancashire, said he believed soaring costs would speed up the closure of around a third of businesses in the industry.
Crook told The Telegraph: "I speak to several members. One is having his house valued because he's going to have to sell that. He's [also] trying to offload his shop but people are struggling to sell businesses as well, and you know, you feel trapped.
"It's just a matter of trying to get through this period and hopefully things will be brighter."
Foodservice price inflation is currently running at 20.6%, according to last month's CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index.
The figure is below the record high of 22.9% in December 2022, and there is now clear evidence of price increases beginning to slow. The full basket of food measured by the Index increased by only 0.7% month-on-month — one third of the average rate recorded in the latter part of 2022.
