Fish friers Review - Mar / Apr 2012 - Issue 2 - National Federation of ...
Fish friers Review - Mar / Apr 2012 - Issue 2 - National Federation of ...
Fish friers Review - Mar / Apr 2012 - Issue 2 - National Federation of ...
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THE fish <strong>friers</strong> REVIEW<br />
At the time <strong>of</strong> writing, there are only ten fish and chip shops in the UK with <strong>Mar</strong>ine<br />
Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. As the certification procedure is not that<br />
challenging, and getting easier all the time, with real business benefits to be had upon<br />
certification; the question must be asked... why have you not applied yet? Great work<br />
is going on behind the scenes between the NFFF and MSC to make the process easier<br />
so now is the time to take steps to a sustainable future.<br />
Perceived Value<br />
We found MSC certification to be a fantastic marketing tool. Their ecolabel (that you<br />
need certification to display) is getting to be well known by the general public and you<br />
see more and more MSC fish in the frozen food cabinets <strong>of</strong> all the leading<br />
supermarkets. To be able to have the MSC logo on your menus, shop window, website<br />
etc. is a great plus. It adds perceived value in the eyes <strong>of</strong> your customers, by adding<br />
to their feel-good factor when munching your fish and chips. Plus the wonderful thing<br />
is that there is only a minimal additional cost to you <strong>of</strong> purchasing MSC fish compared<br />
to non-MSC. For you to benefit from being certified, the chain needs to be complete<br />
from the sea to the final consumer. The fishery, the wholesaler and you all need to be<br />
certified – but many fisheries and suppliers already are so you may be just the last link<br />
in the chain.<br />
MSC fisheries grow in number every year and there are numerous UK national<br />
wholesalers that are MSC certified, we buy from Fastnet and Smales, but there are<br />
lots and lots more, please check out the “Find a supplier” section on the MSC’s<br />
8<br />
A Shining Light<br />
As current holders <strong>of</strong> the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Fish</strong> & Chip<br />
Award’s ‘Good Catch’ Award, Peter Fraser <strong>of</strong><br />
Harbour Lights in Falmouth knows more than most<br />
when it comes to the benefits <strong>of</strong> sourcing<br />
sustainable seafood. We hear from Peter on how<br />
achieving Chain <strong>of</strong> Custody is helping his business<br />
Richardson’s <strong>Fish</strong> Bar<br />
Richardson’s who already have<br />
a reputation for serving<br />
excellent quality fish were keen<br />
to source sustainable Cod and<br />
Haddock while maintaining the<br />
highest possible quality. By<br />
working directly with their<br />
network <strong>of</strong> trawler owners,<br />
Smales were able to provide the<br />
solution, sustainable MSC<br />
certified frozen at sea Cod and<br />
Haddock, caught within the deep clean waters <strong>of</strong> the Barents Sea.<br />
Chris Richardson, owner <strong>of</strong> Richardson's <strong>Fish</strong> Bar said “It has been a worthwhile<br />
process to get MSC accreditation, we wanted to demonstrate our commitment<br />
to sourcing only the best quality fish from sustainable stocks and we are pleased<br />
that Smales are able to help with our sourcing <strong>of</strong> MSC approved Cod &<br />
Haddock.”<br />
If you would like to know more about availability <strong>of</strong> MSC Frozen at Sea Cod &<br />
Haddock please contact Lewis Smales on 01482 324997 or email<br />
lewis.smales@smales.co.uk<br />
Rock<strong>Fish</strong><br />
Dartmouth’s Rock<strong>Fish</strong> Seafood & Chips, owned by food writer and restaurateur<br />
Mitch Tonks and business partner and long term friend Mat Prowse have now<br />
achieved MSC certification. Rockfish will be <strong>of</strong>fering its customers certified<br />
sustainable Norwegian cod and haddock as part <strong>of</strong> its everyday menu.<br />
Mitch Tonks explained: “Everyone in the seafood industry is aware <strong>of</strong><br />
sustainability and the issues surrounding it. We are fortunate to be able to buy<br />
Peter (far right) and members <strong>of</strong> his<br />
team proudly display the ‘blue tick’<br />
Sustainability<br />
Special<br />
website: www.msc.org. You would have no difficulty in sourcing MSC Cod, Haddock,<br />
Hake, Prawns and Salmon but the list increases all the time.<br />
Has being MSC certified helped my business?<br />
Definitely a big “Yes”. Let’s get specific:<br />
4 What a fantastic PR story it will be for your shop. Was for us, even got invited in to<br />
Radio Cornwall to talk on air about sustainable fish & the Harbour Lights<br />
4 Your shop will have a USP (Unique Selling Proposition) that your competitors are<br />
unlikely to have. You are likely to have always had a quality product but now you<br />
have a bit more to <strong>of</strong>fer. You have more ability to walk away from local price wars.<br />
4 The 15 – 25 age group “get” the environmental message a lot more than us old<br />
timers. They are the future <strong>of</strong> your business.<br />
The last two years, sales at the Harbour Lights have increased by 15% p.a., despite a<br />
major celebrity chef opening a fish and chip shop 200 yards from our front door. Yes,<br />
I think going fully down the sustainable fish route is a good idea.<br />
If you would like to discuss anything regarding sustainable fish or MSC certification,<br />
I would love to help, please contact me on pete@harbourlights.co.uk or<br />
07971 653013.<br />
Peter Fraser, Owner, Harbour Lights www.harbourlights.co.uk<br />
3 more chippies lead the way to a sustainable future<br />
MSC have had a busy start to the year as three more fish and chip shops have achieved chain <strong>of</strong> custody<br />
STOP PRESS<br />
direct from our local market in Brixham where the<br />
fishery is extremely well managed. We don’t land a huge<br />
amount <strong>of</strong> cod and haddock locally and I wanted our<br />
supply <strong>of</strong> these species to be the best around to match<br />
the quality <strong>of</strong> the local fish. That meant it had to be<br />
sustainable and line caught, my search took me to<br />
Norway where I believe we found the best fish in the<br />
world <strong>of</strong> its kind. I am really proud to be able to <strong>of</strong>fer<br />
our customers a sustainable choice <strong>of</strong> seafood.”<br />
The Big Blue<br />
Cheshire fish and chip fans have reason to celebrate as fish and chip shops in<br />
Wilmslow and Grappenhall have become the first in the county to achieve<br />
<strong>Mar</strong>ine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. The Big Blue chippies now sell<br />
fish from an MSC certified sustainable source with cod and haddock soon to<br />
join MSC certified South Africa hake on the<br />
menu. All <strong>of</strong> these feel-good fishy suppers carry<br />
a blue MSC eco-label next to them on the menu.<br />
Proprietor Phil Geary explains: “We take pride<br />
in making sure that our customers have the best<br />
choice <strong>of</strong> fish available to them. We felt it was<br />
the correct thing to do to make a positive<br />
contribution to the future <strong>of</strong> fish stocks by<br />
undertaking <strong>Mar</strong>ine Stewardship Council<br />
certification to show our customers that the fish<br />
& chips that they buy from us come from a<br />
certified sustainable source.”<br />
The NFFF would like to congratulate all <strong>of</strong> these<br />
forward thinking chippies for leading the way<br />
The Chip Box, in Stewarton, Ayrshire, is now the latest fish and chip shop to gain chain <strong>of</strong> custody.<br />
Full story next issue!