An award winning fish and chip shop in Greater Manchester has been accused of ‘ripping people off’ after it raised the price of haddock to £8.20.
Chips @ No 8 in Prestwich has regularly been hailed as one of the best fish and chip shops in Greater Manchester. It has also made it into a few national lists, and often draws in big crowds during the day.
Run by owner Dan Edwards, the takeaway has defended raising the price of its haddock at the weekend, which it has described as its biggest seller besides chips.
The takeaway said the cost of ordering a box of haddock from their suppliers had increased by 125 per cent in the last seven years.
Costing £58 a box in 2018, Dan said the cost of haddock had now ‘jumped to an all-time high’ of £130 a box.
Dan said that the £4.70 cost of haddock in 2018 would now cost around £12.70 today, not factoring in overheads and utilities which would see it priced at around £15. Instead, the shop has begun temporarily changing £8.20 for haddock until the price drops.
Saying he would ‘continue to support our domestic fisherladies and fishermen’, Dan said he was sharing the news in a bid for ‘transparency’ after being accused of ‘ripping people off’.
He posted: ‘We temporarily increased the price of haddock to £8.20 on the Saturday so that we weren’t in danger of making a loss after we factor in the overheads and the reason for this post was someone accused us of “ripping people off!”. So this is for transparency.
Dan Edwards, owner of Chips @ No 8 in Prestwich, has defended the company’s price rises
The price of haddock at the takeaway has soared to £8.20, which Dan says is down to increasing costs from suppliers
The takeaway said the cost of a box of haddock has increased by 125 per cent in seven years
‘We survive squeezed margins through volume, simple as that. The balance between profit, if any and footfall is a fine one. Prices will fluctuate until the fish market settles but please know that no-one is ripping anyone off here.’
Most of Chips @ No 8’s customers said they understood the reasons for the hike and said they would continue to support the chip shop.
One person responded: ‘Your chippy is fantastic and I’d rather pay more knowing I’m getting great food. Keep up the good work.’
Another commented: ‘People don’t understand how difficult it is running a business in this climate. Prices double overnight and you can only soak it up the odd time.’ One other wrote: ‘Fabulous shop – actual fresh fish’.
One person said: ‘Growing up in a chippy back in the day price fluctuations was a headache. I can imagine how much more difficult it is today with everything on top. We love your chippy and will continue to support you.’
Another said: ‘Keep on keeping on Dan. Best chippy in the country. Nobody wants to pay more but I’m sure all reasonable people understand and will continue to support your great chippy.’
Earlier this month another chippy apologised to customers after charging £15 for fish and chips as a result of widespread price rises.
Labour’s increase in National Insurance contributions for employers will also increase wage bills, with one estimating the costs saying she needed to find another £700 per employee per year.
Brad-Lee Navruz, who runs The Nippy Chippy in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, apologised to customers this week after charging £15 for fish and chips as a result of widespread price rises
The Nippy Chippy in Stonehouse is now charging £15 for a large cod and chips, and £12.50 for a regular portion – a significant jump from the previous price of £10.30
Brad-Lee Navruz, who runs The Nippy Chippy in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, said he ‘feels bad’ for customers who’ve been left shocked by the new prices, but explained that the rising cost of ingredients has left him with little alternative.
He is now charging £15 for a large cod and chips, and £12.50 for a regular portion – a significant jump from the previous price of £10.30.
Mr Navruz said most customers have been understanding about the increase, though a few have reacted with surprise when told the new price.
‘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,’ he said.
‘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’.’
‘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 addressed the price rise on social media, explaining that small businesses like his are under huge financial strain.
Mr Navruz said that in the past, price rises were kept minimal – usually just 10 or 20p – but this time the increase has been unavoidable due to a sharp rise in fish costs.
