Here’s a bit of trivia for you. Apparently it was Sir Walter Raleigh who first brought the potato to England way back in the 17th Century. Apparently the French were first to work out how tasty chips were fried. But when it comes down to the perfectly matched fish and chip pair, both Lancashire and London have staked a claim to inventing it first. The industrial north was all about chips as a cheap, staple food, while fried fish owes its origins to London’s East End. Some genius decided the two would work together and voila, in the 1860’s the nation’s Fish and Chip delight arrived. It wasn’t until the industrial revolution in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that the Fish and Chip phenomenon we know and love today came about in full force – plenty of appetites needing sating! It was a diet that sustained many a British family through the Second World War too as Fish and Chips was one of few foods that weren’t rationed. No wonder the combination remains a national institution.
We consume nearly 300 million portions of fish and chips each year which equates to six servings for every man, woman and child in the UK. The industry itself is worth £1.2bn which means for every £100 spent on food, £1 is spent in a Fish and Chip Shop. When you consider that there are over 8,500 Fish and Chip Shops in Britain today, that’s eight for every one McDonald’s outlet, it says a huge amount about the popularity of this delicious dish. It says even more about how effective advertising in this space could be for the right brand.
If you feel yourself suddenly fancying that sizzling, scrumptious fish and chip combination that holds a firm place in the hearts of Brits across the country, it’s probably down to the fact that this week is a special one. It’s none other than National Chip Week and Sarsons Vinegar are back for the second year running supporting the quintessentially British dish with branded bags and sampling in 200 Fish and Chip Shops nationwide. What a fantastic way to reach consumers at a relevant vinegar moment and remind consumers about the Sarsons brand.
*Source: Historic UK, Love Potatoes and The National Federation of Fish Friers
