Fryday I’m in Love!

As founders of National Fish & Chip Day, the National Edible Oil Distributors Association (NEODA) is delighted to announce two new joint headline sponsors for the campaign which happens this year on Friday June 2nd.

The Q Partnership, made up of 3 family wholesalers, comprising of Friars Pride, Henry Colbeck and V A Whitley who are major national suppliers to the trade, and Middleton Foods, a leading producer and supplier of loved and trusted batter mixes, sauces and breadings.

The Q Partnership and Middleton Foods have always been keen supporters of the event because they have seen first-hand how valuable the day is for this well-loved and incredible sector. Indeed, in the past, some shops have reported that National Fish & Chip Day is their most successful trading day of the year, even superseding that traditional fish-eating day Good Friday! The shops who take part really do go all-out and put on some excellent events, using their social media streams very effectively and generally enjoying and celebrating the day!

Shops have seen that it doesn’t have to cost them anything and that with just a little imagination they can generate enormous results, not just on the day, but in the weeks and months afterwards.

Ryan Baker, Sales Manager for The Middleton Group said they are extremely proud to be joint headline sponsor for this years’ National Fish & Chip Day. “We have always seen the day as a fabulous way to showcase the amazing product the Fish & Chip industry has and the special people that work so hard to produce it. Now, more than ever, we want to do all we can to help everyone get as much out of the day as possible and to attract new customers to the Nation’s best takeaway.”

Georgina Colbeck (on behalf of The Q Partnership) said “Our 3 family businesses have jointly been supplying Fish & Chip shops across the UK for a combined total of almost 300 years and supporting the industry is in our blood and it’s our passion – to us it’s personal. We know how challenging the past few years have been for everyone, so we are putting extra support in to be joint headline sponsors for National Fish & Chip Day. We also want to champion Team Fish & Chips throughout the year to drive footfall and raise awareness of the fantastic food that our industry is producing, especially amongst the younger generation. We’re family businesses supporting family businesses feeding the nations’ families.”

In 2022, more than half the population would have seen, heard or read about National Fish & Chip Day and it was featured on or in national and regional TV, radio, newspapers, magazines and across the internet from dawn until late in the day -as well as trending on Twitter from 8am. Fish & Chip roadshows were held in London, Cambridge, Wales and Scotland where members of the public enjoyed free Fish & Chips throughout the day.

Visit www.nationalfishandchipday.org. uk to find out more.

In our next edition we will give you over 50 ideas for National Fish & Chip Day! Let us know what you are doing email austen@chippychat.co.uk

By Austen Dack 2023

What’s Cooking? The chippy show returned to Harrogate for 2023 and was better than ever! Over 70 exhibitors turned up to the Yorkshire Event Centre recently to showcase their products and services to Henry Colbeck customers and the Fish & Chip Industry as a whole.

Customers attending What’s Cooking? 2023 where treated to a range of food samples, entertainment and advice from industry leaders during the daylong event as well as it being a great opportunity for networking and support. My favourite had to be the gigantic stilt walkers, Big Foot from McWhinneys and a FREE ice cream for all visitors from the van outside!

Suppliers for packaging, oils & fats, frozen at sea fish, equipment, frying ranges and frozen foods flocked in from across the UK and Europe to attend this trade show. The event was well attended by customers from across the Colbeck trading area as well as attracting interest from potential new customers and suppliers. The Sunday Kitchen was a brilliant addition to the show, it featured top friers giving tips and frying from across the UK including David Miller, Dan Harding and new UK champion Geoff Whitehead.

Here at Chippy Chat & Isle of Ely Produce, we were once again out in force this time sampling the Agrico chipping variety Babylon to the thousands who turned out on the day. We were ably assisted by PG Chips who can supply fresh pre-cut chips to shops across the middle and upper areas of England. Duncrue were frying Babylon pre cut samples all day and the reaction from the event was very good indeed!

Isle of Ely Produce have been promoting a Chip Ambassador role to promote the great British Chip in association with Agrico. The aim will be to carry on and extend the good work promoting chipping potatoes at their hugely successful open days, and through the ‘Field to Frier’ award.

The Chip Ambassadors have become part of an UK wide group of shop owners and fryers who will promote best practice for potato buying, storing, and of course frying. The chain will also include key growers too like PJ Lee & Sons, and A. L. Lee Farming Company, as IOE looks to nurture the relationships they have grown across the whole supply chain over the last forty years.

Oliver Boutwood Isle of Ely Produce Director said. “It was great for us to be at What’s Cooking in Harrogate trialling Babylon via PG Chips. It is important for shops all over the UK to try for us to get the results we need for the trial.”

Alex Moore National Sales Manager for Agrico says: “It is nice to see Babylon going on tour and be tried by so many shops. We were very happy to see the variety tried across the UK and get the same positive results.”

Here at Chippy Chat we would like to send a massive thanks to all H Colbecks staff and management for putting on a great show in their 130th year!

If you would like to try Babylon and become a chip ambassador, please email austen@chippychat.co.uk www.precutchips.co.uk