Middleton Foods is excited to announce that The Peter Hill Award is back for 2025 with entry open now for anyone new to the trade.
Launched by Middleton Foods in memory of its late CEO, Peter Hill, in 2023, The Peter Hill Award is truly unique and reflects Peter’s passion for his beloved fish and chip industry, as Ryan Baker, sales manager, Middleton Foods explains: “Peter loved the industry so much and was always keen to support and nurture new talent in the trade he adored. The Peter Hill Award recognises newcomers to the industry, encourages new talent, promotes quality and excellence and allows us to give something back to the trade. We’d like to extend our thanks to our independent expert judging panel – Fred Capel, Nigel Hodgson and Calum Richardson – as well as Nikki Williams, sales director at KFE and NFFF too, for their ongoing support.
The award is a true legacy to Peter and a fantastic way to keep our great friend’s memory alive. We can’t wait to see who enters this year, and to see who will win something money just can’t buy. A carefully curated prize pot, which encapsulates all the aspects of the industry Peter loved so much – areas he was so knowledgeable and passionate about – that will support the winner and benefit their business ongoing.”
Previous winners include Oliver’s Chippy in Warton, Lancashire, which took the title in its first year, and current award holder Salt Fish & Chips in Cumbria.
Commenting on their win in 2023, Gillian Jervis, owner of Oliver’s Chippy, said at the time: “Wow, we’re over the moon to win The Peter Hill Award! We’re enormously proud to be in the fish and chip trade, and we’re delighted our community-focused shop helps put Warton on the map in Fylde. Our son, Oliver, inspires us every day, and we created Oliver’s Chippy so he has employment or if he cannot manage to work in the shop, financial security. We work very hard to operate a small business that cares, and thank everyone who supports us. It’s an honour to win this inaugural Award, which has very special meaning.”
Benjamen Seed, owner of Salt Fish & Chips, said when he won last year: “We are incredibly honoured to win this wonderful award, it shows that the hard work we put in isn’t going unrecognised and I’m really glad we can share this with our customers. Huge thanks to our amazing team here who haven’t only been committed to their roles but have also motivated me to strive for more.”
Previous runners-up include Catch, Porthleven, Cornwall; Frydays, Kendal, Lancashire; Sea Blue Fisheries, Clowne, Sheffield; The Anchor, Bexley, Kent; The Friary, Beauly, Scotland; Angell’s Fisheries, Newark; Anstruther Fish Bar, Anstruther; Harrison’s Fish & Chip Co., Oxford; Jojo’s Van, Stafford; and Toll Bar Fish & Chips, Stoney Middleton.
The Peter Hill Award sparks considerable interest throughout the industry, which means winning is even more special. It isn’t just the kudos of being the winner, but the amazing prize is hugely beneficial to the winning business. Visiting the Middleton Foods site to enjoy a guided factory tour and press the button on the production process of your very own batter mix, is absolutely magic!
The winner of The Peter Hill Award 2025 will receive a spectacular prize – £1,000 worth of Middleton Foods stock; design of their own, ‘own label’ bespoke batter mix; two places at the KFE School of Frying Excellence with accommodation; two places on the NFFF Fish Frying course and membership of the NFFF for one year; 1-1 ForkedUp training with Calum Richardson for three months; two tickets to the National Fish & Chip Awards 2026 (with hotel accommodation and travel expenses); a years’ support from Middleton Foods’ very own Batter Boys and additional support for National Fish and Chip Day 2026! Four runners-up will each receive £300 of Middleton Foods stock and one place at the KFE School of Frying Excellence, with accommodation.
The Peter Hill Award welcomes entries until 30th September 2025, from anyone new to the fish and chip trade. Full details on how to enter, the judges and the all-important prize, can be found here – www.middletonfoods.com/the-peter-hill-award.
