There are fears that half of the country’s shops selling the uniquely British fast food may go out of business
Around 5,000 of Britain’s 10,500 fish and chips shops may be forced to shut down over soaring prices for ingredients and energy caused by the sanctions imposed on Russia over its military operation in Ukraine, local media reports, citing government figures.
The shop owners were already feeling the pinch, but now the government has placed a 35% tariff against seafood coming from Russia.
“These extra tariffs will push thousands of shops over the edge,”Andrew Crook is the President of the National Federation of Fish Friers.
According to Crook, the price of one kilogram of cod has already risen from £8 (around $10) to £14 ($17).
Around a third of Britain’s white fish comes from Russia. Shops may need to substitute cod and haddock for hake or other less expensive fish in order to survive.
Bally Singh sells fish and chip in West London. He told The Daily Express that customers often leave the shop after they see the price.
“At one point, fish was one of the cheapest meals. Now it’s one of the most expensive,”He stated.
As a result, it is getting more difficult to keep the business going. “fish boxes have more than doubled in the last year. Oil is up as is electricity and gas,”Singh said. “The question about closing does arise.”
The Sun reported that the cabinet is not united on Russian seafood taxes. “Everyone wants to see the other side. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, but this drives people out of business in a cost-of-living crisis,”A government source confirmed that the newspaper had been informed.
But not everyone is pessimistic; the head of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, Barrie Deas, says the current situation provides “a big opportunity to increase North Sea catches such as haddock and whiting.”
Un spokesperson for the government said that Downing Street knew this. “fish and chips shops are a well-loved British tradition”It has been “working closely with industry to mitigate the impact these sanctions may have on British businesses.”
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British consumers are facing shop price inflation
He insisted, however that London be the capital of his country. “stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine and will continue to ratchet the pressure to isolate the Russian economy and inflict maximum damage to Putin’s regime.”
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