Is the UK’s traditional fish and chip supper under threat?

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Category: Business

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. knock-on / nɒk ɒn / (adj.) – describing an additional consequence or result that happens because of something else
    Example:

    Rising oil prices caused knock-on effects in food production.


  2. mushy / ˈmʌʃ i / (adj.) – describing something soft, wet, and mashed; often too soft
    Example:

    The potatoes became mushy after boiling.


  3. unprecedented / ʌnˈprɛs ɪˌdɛn tɪd / (adj.) – never happening before; never known before; very unusual or new
    Example:

    The country experienced unprecedented heat during the summer.


  4. stock / stɒk / (n.) – a supply of something that is available for use
    Example:

    Fish stocks in the ocean are decreasing because of overfishing.


  5. depleted / dɪˈpliː tɪd / (adj.) – describing something that has become smaller or weaker because too much has been used or lost
    Example:

    Scientists are worried about depleted natural resources.


Article

Read the text below.

Britain’s traditional fish and chip supper is under pressure from rising fish prices and tighter catch limits, to the knock-on effects of global conflict and higher energy costs. The National Federation of Fish Friers says the number of shops selling fish and chips has fallen from more than 30,000 to around 9,000 in recent years, amid increasing financial strain.


For over a decade, Brockley’s Rock in South East London has been serving customers from its Lewisham shopfront after opening in 2011, building on experience in the trade that dates back to 1989. But what cost £1.65 for haddock and chips when the founder first entered the trade in 1989 and £5.90 when this shop opened in 2011 now costs £15.55 for a typical portion of haddock and chips served with mushy peas.


That increase reflects not just inflation but a sharp hike in costs over recent years, with prices in some cases more than doubling in a short period.


Kyri Karoulla, founder of Brockley’s Rock, says the past few years have brought unprecedented cost pressures. “Since the Ukraine war, as we all know, prices have gone really high, and our gas and electricity have gone through the roof, about 300 percent more than we used to pay before. Obviously, that’s another huge challenge because at the time, everything’s gone up. Normally, we get one of the raw ingredients would go up a little bit, up and down, but on that particular year, everything’s gone up. We’ve never had anything like that before.”


The fish itself has seen some of the steepest increases. The National Federation of Fish Friers says the total allowable catch for cod in the Barents Sea has fallen sharply, from around one million tonnes in 2019 to 285,000 tonnes this year.


That quota system is designed to protect fish stocks, but with fewer fish available, prices have risen.


The reduction follows scientific advice aimed at rebuilding depleted stocks, meaning supply is deliberately restricted to allow recovery, tightening availability across global markets.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The article says the price of haddock and chips has risen from £1.65 in 1989 to more than £15 today. How would you feel if a meal you loved suddenly became too expensive to buy often? In what ways do rising food prices change people’s daily habits or traditions? Discuss.
  • Fish and chips have long been a traditional meal in Britain, but many shops selling fish and chips are now closing. Why do some traditional foods stay popular for many years? Do you think younger people care less about food traditions than older people? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The number of fish and chip shops in Britain has fallen from more than 30,000 to around 9,000. How does a neighborhood or place change when long-time local shops disappear? Which do you think is more important today: to support local businesses or choose cheaper options? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • As traditional shops close, the market changes. Some shops might start selling different, cheaper types of fish that are not as popular. If your favorite meal changed its main ingredient to something cheaper and less tasty, would you keep buying it out of loyalty? Why or why not? In your opinion, is it better for a tradition to change and survive or stay the same and disappear? Why do you say so? Discuss.