UK fish and chips pass £11 as Ukraine war chokes supply
The loss of Russian-caught fish and soaring energy costs have driven the price of a standard cod and chips in the UK above £11, illustrating the deep consumer impact of the Ukraine war on European food supply chains.
The average price of cod and chips in the UK has reached £11.41, while haddock and chips now costs just over £10, as the economic fallout from the war in Ukraine and soaring energy costs reshape the country's takeaway market.
Jon Long, who operates chip shops in Dorset and also works on a tuna fishing boat, currently charges £11.70 for a regular cod portion. "Let's call it £12," he said, noting that £2 goes directly to the government in VAT. Food accounts for roughly 35% of the price, or £3.50 to £4, while labour takes up 40%, equating to £4. Once packaging and energy bills are paid, roughly £2 remains to cover business reinvestment and his income.
The sudden spike in wholesale fish prices is directly tied to the conflict in Eastern Europe. Before the war, the business paid £7 for a kilo of fish; today, that figure sits between £16 and £17. "Over 50% of the fish coming into the UK was Russian caught," Long explained. "It wasn't necessarily in Russian waters, but it was Russian caught, that's now stopped and consequently they've also put a tariff on the fish."
This sudden supply shock, compounded by broader post-pandemic hospitality pressures, has left the sector facing severe margin compression. There are roughly 7,210 fish and chip shops operating across the UK, according to industry body Seafish. To survive, some operators are substituting traditional cod with less familiar species, while others are looking at reducing portion sizes. "We have been hit by energy prices as all in hospitality have," Long said. "It's not just hospitality, it's everybody's pockets have been hit by it."
Despite the intense pressure on costs, some operators are betting on longevity. Long recently reopened a shop in Wareham that had been shuttered since November, aided by his son joining the family trade. "I wouldn't be investing in that if I didn't believe there was a future," he said. "I believe there is a future in the fish and chip industry but it is going to be a challenge. I think we've got to manage our costs well."
