Hikary’s Fish Bar in Neath, Wales, is the first chippy to receive both MSC certification and the NFFF’s Quality Award after piloting a new partnership process between the (Marine Stewardship Council) MSC and the (National Federation of Fish Friers) NFFF.

The owner, Ouday Hikary is delighted to be the first to pilot this new combined process through on-site auditing which offers fish and chip shops an easier and more cost effective method for MSC certification, enabling customers to enjoy the assurance that comes with MSC fish.

Ouday commented; "I’d always wanted to get MSC certified and gain the NFFF’s Quality Award - so it’s fantastic being the first to pilot these new processes! I’d definitely recommend this to every fish and chip shop, as combining the two processes is much more efficient and offers cost-savings too.”

Despite being open just 5 years, Hikary’s Fish Bar has gone from strength to strength, growing from just 2 members of staff to a total of 12 and recruiting for more!

Ouday started his first fish and chip shop after being persuaded into developing an empty property next door to his pub and it was this first experience that got him hooked! Now Ouday can’t imagine doing anything else. "I absolutely love it! Serving lovely food to lovely people, and when someone comes in and says your fish dish was stunning, that^s the best feeling.”

Gaining MSC certification and the Quality Award add to Hikary’s success earlier this year, when it became Wales’ regional winner for best independent takeaway in the National Fish and Chip Shop Awards.

Ouday believes it’s their great fish and their batter, along with their secret recipe rissoles, which make Hikary’s so special; "Our dishes are the very best! Anyone can buy good quality fish, but you have to know how to fry it! It’s a skill!”

Following on from this success gaining MSC certification was the next step for Hikary’s. "We^ve always bought MSC, but this year, we wanted to set an example by getting MSC certification.” Ouday found the onsite audit and MSC’s staff training resources very effective and helpful; "It’s worked well. Now our serving staff are able to talk to customers about our MSC certified sustainable fish dishes with confidence.”

"We now serve MSC plaice and MSC cod, both are great quality and MSC cod is very popular with our customers. We also make our own MSC cod bites which have been a great success with children.”

Ouday has been so impressed with his MSC certification he has already recommended it to a number of other chip shop owners in the region; "I think it’s an amazing achievement… and so important to maintain the oceans sustainable fish for now and for our future generations.”

George Clark, MSC UK Commercial Manager congratulated Hikary’s on their certification;"Hikary’s are passionate about serving customers MSC certified sustainable fish and found our new process with the NFFF very easy to complete and also cost effective. Now they can display the MSC’s blue label so customers can enjoy great fish dinners, assured that the fish is sourced from certified sustainable fisheries.”

How to apply
Visit www.nfff.co.uk for a step-by-step guide to MSC certification and an online application form, or call 0113 230 7044 for more information.