Three of the UK’s leading fish and chip businesses offering healthier menu options have been revealed today (Tuesday 17 October) as part of the 30th anniversary National Fish & Chip Awards, organised by Seafish.

Shortlisted as finalists for the Healthy Eating ‘Fish and Chips’ Award - one of 15 categories in the 2018 National Fish & Chip Awards – the three shops that will now compete for the top title in this award category are: 

The Dolphin Takeaway in Dungannon, County Tyrone Penaluna’s Famous Fish & Chips in Hirwaun, Rhondda Cynon Taf Fish City in Belfast, County Antrim

To reach this stage of the competition, the three shops have been assessed against a wide variety of judging criteria, including menu diversification and innovation, staff training and knowledge of product contents, promotional and marketing activity to encourage healthier options and the collection and implementation of customer feedback on healthier dishes.

Over the coming weeks, judges will make further in-depth visits to review both the front and back-of-house practices of the respective businesses. This final stage of competition judging will determine the overall national winner who will be announced at the 30th anniversary awards ceremony.

Marcus Coleman, Chief Executive at Seafish, said: "Research shows that fish and chips has a much richer nutritional offering than many other takeaway options - a portion provides healthy amounts of protein, carbohydrates, vitamin B6 and B12, iron, calcium and phosphorous, as well as trace elements of iodine, fluorine, zinc and important dietary fibre. 

"The combination of responsibly caught fish and freshly harvested potatoes, along with oil and flour for the batter base, delivers one of the most natural and unadulterated takeaway foods on offer in the UK. While this is a terrific starting point, it’s still important that fish and chip businesses continue to expand and diversify their menus to include healthier options for consumers.

"This year’s finalists are truly championing the values of the fish and chip industry; their nutritional knowledge of the product is exemplary and they are continuously embracing menu diversification.”

Adrian Delaney, Healthy Eating ‘Fish and Chips’ Award judge, added: "It’s an honour to be one of the judges for this year’s awards. I was hugely impressed by some of the fantastic ideas and concepts that the entrants have been implementing - it was definitely challenging to determine a final three.

"As well as looking at different ways businesses can guide its staff and customers to consider nutritional alternatives, our finalists have ensured that their product still lives up to the iconic fish and chip taste. I wish them best of luck and would like to commend them for their fantastic efforts in raising awareness of healthier choices.”

The winner of the Healthy Eating ‘Fish and Chips’ Award will be announced at The National Fish & Chip Awards’ 30th anniversary ceremony in London on 25 January 2018. 

www.fishandchipawards.com