Carmarthen chippy wins a utensils upgrade courtesy of Hopkins

West End Fish & Chips in Carmarthen is celebrating success after securing a place in this year’s Fry Awards and, with it, a valuable boost to the business in the form of a brand new utensils bundle from sponsor Hopkins

Having achieved the impressive 97% pass rate, West End Fish & Chips earned its place among the UK’s 50 Best Fish & Chip Takeaways, receiving an eight-piece utensil bundle worth more than £200. The prize forms part of a wider giveaway from Hopkins, which provided bundles to every business that made the 50 Best Takeaways and Top 10 Best Restaurants, totalling more than £12,000. The set includes essential tools such as a 50 mesh skimmer, spider, fish lifter and chip scoop, all made from high quality stainless steel.

Owner Murad Naoli, who took over the shop with his brother in 2012, says the recognition means a great deal after years of investment and improvement. “We entered last year and missed out by just one point, so to make it this year is brilliant,” he says. “I love the Fry Awards because they send mystery diners and you don’t know who they are or when they’re coming. It really helps you stay on top of everything.”

Since taking over what they believe to be one of the oldest food premises in Carmarthen, the brothers have upgraded suppliers, revamped the interior, and installed a new three pan Hopkins frying range with a built-in grill.

And now, thanks to Hopkins, they have a new set of utensils, which are already making a difference in day-to-day service. “They are very good quality – you can tell from the material and the handles – and we’re using all of them,” says Murad. “The chip scoop is excellent for portion control and really helps the staff, especially during busy evenings. You don’t want to give too much away, especially with the price of ingredients now.”

He also highlights the benefits of maintaining oil quality and product consistency. “The skimmer is very good too. We use it after every fry and it picks up all the small bits from the oil. That’s really important when you’re busy and need to keep standards high.”

With utensils often needing replacement every few months, the prize has provided welcome support. “We’re buying new utensils regularly, so it’s great to get something like this. Costs are going up everywhere – fish, oil – so it really helps the business.”

Murad also values the detailed feedback provided by the Fry Awards. “When we get the report, we go through every single word. It’s really helpful, and I share it with the staff so we can improve both food and service.”

The shop’s achievement was also recognised locally when MP Ann Davies wrote to the team, praising them for “putting Carmarthen Town on the map once again”.

Providing the winning takeaways, restaurants and mobiles with an additional prize this year, Ferhat Akkaya, director at Hopkins, adds: “It was a pleasure to recognise and reward this year’s Fry Awards winners with our new utensils. It’s our small way of saying well done and helping them stay at the top of their game.”

Hopkins 0113 257 7934 www.hopkins.biz