Finalists for the Best Newcomer Award category of the National Fish & Chip Awards 2013, organised by Seafish, the authority on seafood, have been announced. Fish & Chips @ London Road in Middlesex Frydays Fish & Chips Emporium in Cardiff Salt & Vinegar in Dorset The three businesses will now compete at an evening awards ceremony at the prestigious Lancaster London hotel in London on 24 January 2013, in a bid to be crowned best newcomer to the fish and chip shop industry.

The awards celebrate the very best fish and chip businesses Britain has to offer and 2013 marks the 25th anniversary of the competition – ensuring the awards ceremony will be extra special and the various award titles even more coveted as the judging teams seek to determine worthy winners.

The award category is open to any fish and chip retailer trading 18 months or less. Businesses are mystery shopped and are judged in house at both head office and shop level, on product quality, sustainability practices, commercial awareness and staff training levels all under scrutiny.
The award is sponsored by Frymax, the leading all-vegetable frying fat for the fish frying trade. Cyril Solomons, marketing manager said: "The shortlisted shops should be very encouraged to have received a highly commended award as it^s an extremely tough category. Our team of expert industry judges were impressed with the promise the shops are showing and I fully expect to see them on our list of winners in the future.”
Due to the extremely high standards of entrants this year, the judging panel has also awarded four Highly Commended certificates to: Blackstocks, Chester; Cod on the Corner, Falmouth; Roberts Fish Bar, Stockton on Tees and Ye Olde Fish Market, Surrey, to recognise their achievements and contribution to the industry.

Nikki Hawkins, foodservice and events manager at Seafish, said: "The Best Newcomer Award is an important and interesting award category as it recognises the new people entering the trade from many different background and careers. It awards them for their achievements thus far, and in doing so, inspiring other people to break into the foodservice industry.

"The level of standards and commitment these, often young, entrepreneurs are putting into their business is hugely encouraging for the future of the industry.”