Shillingford’s three award winning fish and chip shops in Melyn, Neath Abbey and Victoria Gardens in Neath, South Wales, have all achieved MSC certification to serve sustainable fish suppers to their locals. Now MSC labelled fish on all three of their restaurant menus can be traced back to sustainable, well-managed fisheries.

The family run business, owned by Allan and Kirsty Shillingford since 2007, has been developed into three popular and highly regarded fish and chip takeaways. The most recent shop in Victoria Gardens opened in 2013, with a first floor restaurant that overlooks the gardens, yet retaining the same modern interior as the others in the group.

Kirsty explained how their shops became MSC certified;

We are very passionate about the produce we sell and feel it’s important to offer the best produce with good provenance, such as certified sustainable and traceable fish for our Shillingford fish and chip shops.”Kirsty explains how they found out about getting MSC certified sustainable fish on to their Shillingford chippies’ menus:"I started looking into the MSC’s sustainable seafood programme and as a result of the information, became inspired, recommending that we apply for MSC certification for all three of our shops. I contacted the ‘MSC in the UK’ via facebook, spoke to colleagues with certified chippies and also to members of the National Federation of Fish Friers, (NFFF).”All three Shillingford fish and chip shops are in Neath but are located in different areas; all three with a similar style modern interiors and offering the same focus on a more natural, sustainable and healthier menu."We are using a new natural batter, a new eco friendly oil which is safe for the environment, locally grown potato and a low salt alternative in the shop.”"We’ve had a really positive response on our social media and in local meetings about the new certification. At the moment it^s very early days. Our great quality MSC certified cod comes from TQuality and is on all our menus, but we are hoping to extend this in the future to also offer plaice and haddock.”"It means a great deal to us at Shillingfords to have this certification and raise the standards of trade in our Neath and Swansea area. It^s very important to us that both our trade and future generations of customers, can enjoy certified sustainable fish, just as much as we do!I feel very proud that we are doing our bit in for sustainable seafood and fishing - it^s a very positive move for our company!”George Clark, MSC UK Commercial Manager, was pleased to welcome Shillingfords to the growing number of MSC certified fish and chip shops across the UK."Shillingfords have made great strides in only a few years with their group of fish and chip shops – now they are setting the standard in the area, serving MSC certified fish to all of their customers across three shops - a great achievement.”Shillingfords are the only fish and chip shops in the Neath and Swansea area to have MSC certification, and the third fish and chip business in Wales with MSC certification. For further information on The National Fish & Chip Awards please visit learn all about the management of a thriving fish and chip business, to understand the requirements of the shop, in terms of premises, equipment and hygiene and how to prepare a great end product, how to supervise staff and how to create genuine relationships with customers and suppliers.