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  1. #1
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    Thousands of Britain's 'fish and chip' shops could close within a year. Here's why

    London (CNN Business)The United Kingdom's fish-and-chip shops are under severe strain as the prices of key ingredients — including cod and cooking oil — soar as a result of the Russian assault on Ukraine.

    As many as a third of the country's roughly 10,000 fish-and-chip restaurants could close in the next nine months, said Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers. The crisis is the worst he's seen, he told CNN Business.

    The trade group represents 1,200 fish-and-chip businesses, and has been running for more than a century.

    Crook, who owns his own shop, said prices started rising toward the end of last year, but the costs of staple ingredients have shot up since late February, when Russia invaded Ukraine.
    "Across the board, everything's gone up," Crook said.

    Businesses across industries are struggling with soaring prices as supply chain snarls have been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. But British fish and chip shops, which traditionally operate under very narrow margins, are feeling a particular squeeze because of the industry's reliance on Russian imports.

    Up to 40% of the industry's cod and haddock come from Russian waters, and about half of its sunflower oil is imported from Ukraine, Crook said.

    Businesses are paying about 83% more for sunflower oil compared to early March, according to Crook. Palm oil, a common alternative, has doubled in price. Indonesia — the world's biggest exporter of palm oil — started to restrict exports last month to help maintain domestic supplies.

    Adding to the pain are eye-watering energy bills and rocketing prices for fertilizer needed to grow potatoes.

    Fish and chips is one of the UK's unofficial national dishes. The first shops opened in the 1860s and spread rapidly as the country industrialized, helping to feed factory workers, according to the trade group. During World War II, as the government rationed other staples such as tea, butter, meat, fish and chips were exempt, so important was the dish to the working classes.

    Customers expect their fish and chips to be cheap, Crook said. A year ago, the average price for a regular cod and chips would be about £7, Crook said. Now, he estimates it's around £8.50 — a 21% increase.

    "We are running the risk of pricing ourselves out of the market...we're trying to keep increases as low as possible," Crook said. Some have already turned away.

    "I've lost some regular customers that used to come every Friday," he added.

    Fears that the UK government will impose harsh import tariffs on Russian white fish have pushed businesses to stock up on alternatives, further jacking up the price of the Icelandic and Norwegian fish that Crook buys.

    The price of a case of Icelandic cod is now £270 ($331), up from £140 ($176) this time last year, Crook said.

    Businesses like Crook's face the uphill task of selling fish and chips to customers facing the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. Annual consumer price inflation hit 7% in March, its highest level in 30 years, and could hit 10% later this year, according to the Bank of England.

    More than half a million small businesses in the UK— that's about one in 10 — plan to shut, downsize or sell up in the next year as many struggle to secure financing, according to a survey by the Federation of Small Businesses.

    For Crook, the fate of his shop is personal.

    "It's more than just a job. For many of us, we've taken on family businesses," he said. "I'm second generation in the business — and you don't want it failing on your watch."

    https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/16/busin...ion/index.html

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    National Federation of Fish Friers… of course they have a federation!

    But this article is really just a cost of living article. Not just the fish friers!

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrWilly View Post
    But this article is really just a cost of living article. Not just the fish friers!
    Some truth in that, the cost of fish and chips will go up alongside pretty much everything else. That said, the chippie I used to use was frequented by many who lived in the surrounding council estates. I predict that these people will feel the squeeze hardest and as a result the chippies might be hurt harder than some other food outlets. Tough times ahead for UK consumers.

  4. #4
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    Tough times ahead for UK consumers.
    looking on with both horror and amazement at the vast number of sour faced lazy obese pigs that ones sees wobbling about or chugging along on their taxpayer funded "mobility" scooters whilst puffing away on cigarettes in the uk's city centres one can only hope that the present financial pressures will do something to curb their wasteful expenditure on tobacco, alcohol, crisps and pizza and of course their clogging up hospitals with their self inflicted diseases.

  5. #5
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    It will be a global, post pandemic problem, exacerbated by inflation, mostly blamed on the war. Places like the ASEAN countries who relied heavily on tourism will struggle, mostly because they rely on it for a living. Now, they want to reclaim their losses and repay the loans they held before the pandemic closed it all down.

    Previously they had successful and profitable businesses, but they now expect their losses recouped instantly by dint of price gouging. It is unlikely to happen, because tourists from the US and Europe can’t afford holidays now due to inflation at home, and the Chinese are not allowed out to play yet.

    This pandemic has not finished with us yet.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrWilly View Post
    National Federation of Fish Friers
    Been around since 1913. I would not talk shit.

    Federation of Fish Friers - Serving the Fish and Chips Industry

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by taxexile View Post
    ooking on with both horror and amazement at the vast number of sour faced lazy obese pigs that ones sees wobbling about or chugging along on their taxpayer funded "mobility" scooters whilst puffing away on cigarettes in the uk's city centres one can only hope that the present financial pressures will do something to curb their wasteful expenditure on tobacco, alcohol, crisps and pizza and of course their clogging up hospitals with their self inflicted diseases.
    All caused by "Putin", alleges bsnub.

  8. #8
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    Brexit, Covid, Putin.....the Tory filth have a lot to answer for.

    And a dumbo BoE governor who missed the starting gun and still hasn't started to unwind QE.

    Thank fuck I have inflation proofed pensions.

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Seekingasylum View Post
    Brexit, Covid, Putin.....the Tory filth have a lot to answer for.

    And a dumbo BoE governor who missed the starting gun and still hasn't started to unwind QE.

    Thank fuck I have inflation proofed pensions.

    If only you had your ducks in a row.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Seekingasylum View Post
    Thank fuck I have inflation proofed pensions.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Seekingasylum View Post
    Brexit, Covid, Putin.....the Tory filth have a lot to answer for.

    And a dumbo BoE governor who missed the starting gun and still hasn't started to unwind QE.

    Thank fuck I have inflation proofed pensions.
    Yes, the civil servants in the UK have historically received index linked pensions. However that is only keeping you up with inflation not surpassing it. Thus you are no better off. Let’s be honest 5% of fuck all is still fuck all.

    Dem ducks are never going to line up.

  12. #12
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    He's also conflating inflation in the UK with the paradise he's got himself stuck in, 32THB to £1 anyone

  13. #13
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    s.a.
    Thank fuck I have inflation proofed pensions.
    not quite. your pension will increase by 3.3%, that hardly covers the 6% inflation that thailand is experiencing at the moment or the ups and mostly downs of the exchange rate.

    the Tory filth have a lot to answer for.
    if the kneeler and his gobby slag wingwoman were in office we would still be locked down, unvaccinated and sucking vladimir sputums cock.

  14. #14
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    A real catastrophe if the fish and chiperies close. Millions of Brits will starve to death.

  15. #15
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrWilly View Post
    National Federation of Fish Friers… of course they have a federation!!
    Got a problem with that, weirdo?

  16. #16
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cyrille View Post
    Got a problem with that, weirdo?

    What a bizarre choice of posts to flex on, Cy.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrWilly View Post
    What a bizarre choice of posts
    You’re a bizarre kinda guy, weirdo.

    It was just the one post, though.

    Can you not count to one?

  18. #18
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cyrille View Post
    You’re a bizarre kinda guy, weirdo.

    Good morning to you too.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Switch View Post
    This pandemic has not finished with us yet.
    Not by a long shot. Nor is war, drought and other natural disasters which combine to drive up costs of living.

  20. #20
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cyrille View Post
    You’re a bizarre kinda guy, weirdo.

    It was just the one post, though.

    Can you not count to one?

    There you go editing posts of yours after I have replied to them. Does that make you feel clever?

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by taxexile View Post
    s.a.


    not quite. your pension will increase by 3.3%, that hardly covers the 6% inflation that thailand is experiencing at the moment or the ups and mostly downs of the exchange rate.



    .
    Tax, you really are losing your grip, old boy.

    CS pensions, and those for all public sector workers including the state pension allowance, are uprated in line with any increase to the CPI calculated in September and applied the beginning of the following fiscal year on 5th April. Currently, the BoE estimate for inflation for this year by the autumn is in the region of 8-10%.

    I rather think that should keep pace with Somchai's inflation rate which of course is from a relatively low base for we farang who are not burdened with high property taxes and energy costs which either don't exist to any meaningful degree or are subsidised by the state. Other than imported stuff, food and clothing costs are of course of no concern.

    Quite why you should witter on about Thai inflation is a mystery for those of us settled here within our western sourced pensions.

    I expect it's your innate northern inspired parsimony and angst over the costs of keeping your whippets and buying tripe butties that has provoked this concern.

  22. #22
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    I think the cod n chips from Sharples in Pattaya are better than what you can get for the price from some greasy spoon in the UK anyway.

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Seekingasylum View Post
    CS pensions..
    Yes there'll be none of that for self funded blue collar oiks who were never anyone's servant.

  24. #24
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    Look, you warty vacuous lump of antipodean blubber, one was in service to the Crown.

  25. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by Seekingasylum View Post
    those of us settled here
    not only is the E in your keyboard playing up, your predictive text is to, its chosen Settled instead of Stuck.

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