Bigger than any Saints Day, this year’s National Fish & Chip Day on Friday 6th June celebrates its 10th anniversary
Over the past decade, National Fish & Chip Day has grown into a highlight of the fish and chip industry calendar. Organiser NEODA, along with the headline sponsors Middleton Foods and The Q Partnership, is pulling out all the stops this year to celebrate the event’s 10th anniversary with exciting plans in motion including a potential world record attempt. Contact has also been made with both the King and No.10 Downing Street for official support while Drywite Young Fish Frier Glen Morrison is lined up to promote the big day to the nation’s media.
Collaborations
Exciting collaborations are in the pipeline, including a potential partnership with La Gioiosa prosecco in London, and a unique project with Chip Shop Diva Destiny Harold of Merchant’s in Bewdley, Worcestershire. NEODA will also be bringing back its popular consumer competitions to directly involve the public and drive awareness further.
To mark the occasion, exclusive National Fish & Chip Day merchandise – including caps, t-shirts, aprons and bunting – is once again available to help businesses get into the spirit. New pastel-coloured t-shirts have been a hit at trade shows this year – order yours before they sell out at NEODA’s official store.
Explaining why she gets involved with National Fish & Chip Day each year, Tiffany Irvin, co-owner of The Fish Works in Largs, comments: “It’s a great opportunity to celebrate the industry. Other industries have things like Pie Day and Ice Cream Day, and this is our day to shine and shout about what we do. Fish and chips is such a fantastic product: it’s fresh, natural ingredients, it’s cooked to order, and nutritionally it’s better than other takeaways. National Fish & Chip Day gives us a chance to get that message out there.”
Celebrating 10 years
NEODA wants as many shops to get involved this year and is looking to hear from anyone who might be celebrating their 10th year of trading or whose staff have been working in the shop for 10 years. Maybe you’ve got a unique story around the number 10 that’s worth telling. Additionally, if your shop is located near radio station, drop NEODA a message on jo@risecommunications.co.uk as it is keen to work on fish and chip drops and can help with promotion.
Lorraine Arnold, owner of Pier Point Chippy in Devon, is a long-time supporter of National Fish & Chip Day and says it presents an opportunity to engage more closely with the public. She explains: “It’s an important date in our calendar and allows us to trial new species which we do each year. We go outside of Pier Point and give free samples to passersby and encourage them to try them without telling them what it is! Different species in the past have included coley, skate wing, hake and pollock. Hake proved so popular we now serve it as a staple. We also use the Albert costume from the Fishermen’s Mission, with a member of staff dressing up, getting involved and shaking the bucket! It’s another way for us to raise money for our chosen charity.”
It’s important to remember – and NEODA stresses this every year – you don’t have to run a promotion, offer a discount or give anything away on National Fish & Chip Day if you don’t want to. It’s simply about getting involved, whether that’s a poster up in the window or a mention on social media. It all helps raise awareness of fish and chips and encourages customers to visit their local chippy all year round.
Sian Bevan, manager at Farnham’s of Boverton in Llantwit Major, makes it an annual tradition, decorating the shop with flags and balloons and providing National Fish & Chip Day t-shirts and caps for staff. She welcomes the fact it is on a Friday every year, saying it encourages extra customers in to help celebrate the day and generally support local fish and chips shops.
“It’s all about the iconic British staple that is fish and chips,” she says. “The smell, the taste, it’s full of memories for most of us. We often hear stories from customers who remember having their fish and chips in newspaper, some remember the price back in the day, others tell us about holidays by the sea.”
So whether you’re planning something big or small, make it your day. What have you got to lose?
The final word goes to Gary Lewis, president of NEODA, who says: “This year marks a significant milestone for National Fish and Chip Day as we celebrate its 10th anniversary! Over the past decade, we’ve seen incredible support from fish and chip shops across the UK, and we’re thrilled to continue honouring this iconic British dish. Fish and chip shops are at the heart of our communities, and getting involved in this celebration is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the quality and tradition of this family favourite. We encourage all shops to take part and share in the pride and joy that National Fish & Chip Day represents.”
Fun ideas incorporating the number 10
- Spin to win competition with 10 prizes ranging from a side to free fish and chips
- Pick 10 to win. Place ten numbered balls in a bag and customers that pick out the number 10 ball win a side
- Set a timer to go off at 10 past the hour and whoever is at the front of the queue gets their order for free
- 10 chances to win per hour or day
- Kids who are 10 receive a free meal when a family buys a chippy tea
- Give away £10 vouchers hidden in random orders to use on a future order
- Give a 10% discount voucher to all customers to use on their next visit
- Organise a treasure hunt around your local area with 10 prizes up for grabs
- Sell chips for 10p when bought with fish
- Offer kids’ cones of chips for just 10p at lunchtime
TOP TIP
Don’t leave it until the day to promote National Fish & Chip Day, start early. You want people planning in a chippy lunch or tea in the days leading up to the big day.
