One chip shop manager has apologised after having to add £2.20 to the price of a portion
A chip shop manager has apologised to customers for raising prices amid surging costs – as he now charges £15 for cod and chips. The Nippy Chippy in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, is now charging £15 for a large cod and chips and for £12.50 for normal portion. The move comes after seeing the cost of fish surging by more than 60 per cent in just three months.
Manager Brad-Lee Navruz explained that customers were mostly “fine” about the increase but said there had been “a few shocked faces and raised eyebrows”. Mr Navruz explained that he “feels bad” for the price increase.
He said: “I feel really bad for people. Times are harder as it is. For their Friday treat to go up quite a lot I do feel for them. When I say the price to them and their faces get in shock straight away I am saying sorry. There is not much I can do about it but obviously you feel for them because all they want is their Friday treat.”
The Nippy Chippy first issued an apology on its social media explaining why they have recently increased their fish prices, adding that it is a difficult time for businesses.
Mr Navruz said previously they would put the price up around 10p or 20p. But explained that this time price rises were down to a increase in fish costs. He said: “Previously we would put the price up and it would be 10 or 20p – nothing major.
“But this time round it has gone up from £10.30 to £12.50 for normal cod and chips and normal haddock and chips so it is a £2.20 big jump increase. When they [customers] come in and they hadn’t seen the Facebook or the news they have a little bit of a shocked face as in ‘wow it has gone up £2.20 that’s a big increase’.
“But before you could change it to 10p or 20p and no one would bat an eyelid because it’s just standard. But when it goes up so much at one time you do get obviously a few shocked faces and raised eyebrows but once you explain them why it’s gone up and what’s happening they are pretty understandable about it.” Fishing quotas are negotiated annually between the UK, EU and Norway.
This year there is a cap of 25,028 tonnes on cod, a drop of 20% compared to last year. There is a limit of 112,400 tonnes of haddock – down 5% from 2024’s catch limit. The agreement highlights all parties’ continued commitment to ensure a long-term sustainability of shared stocks.
Mr Navruz said attempts to find substitutes had not gone down well in the past. He added: “Cod and haddock are the number one sellers in the UK – they are really good quality fish.
“Rather than replace cod we tried to expand it by introducing another stuff like hake and plaice but it is just never the same and not everyone would want to go for it they would rather just stick for what they know and what they like. Especially when they are paying so much for a portion I don’t think even introducing it now would be an option really.”
Despite the price rise of the fish and chips in the shop, Mr Navruz explained that he has not lost his customers. However they are more likely to purchase cheaper food options such as sausage and chips or burger and chips. He said: “It stays the same and we still get the same amount of business. It just more people getting different things.
“If they can’t afford to get fish and chips then they will go for a different thing like a sausage and chips, burger and chips, fishcake and chips or pie and chips.”
Customer and former fish and chip shop owner of 20 years, Bob Clapham, 77 said the rising prices are “expected”.
He added: “Everything has gone up – fish, potatoes, even the wrapping paper has gone up. Of course you have got your wages, your gas, your electric, your water rates – everything. It is inevitable you are going to have to pay more for stuff like everything else in life.”
Following this year’s fishing quotas agreement, Fisheries Minister Daniel Zeichner said: “This government will always stand up for the British fishing industry, which is the lifeblood of so many communities around our coastline.
“That’s why I’m pleased to have secured a deal providing the UK fleet quota for stocks including cod and haddock worth up to £310 million, while maintaining sustainable levels of stocks for the long-term health of our industry.”
