Simpsons Fish & Chips in Gloucestershire has won the Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year award at the 2016 National Fish and Chip Awards.
The event, organised by Seafish, saw the Cheltenham takeaway crowned at a ceremony in London on 20 January.
Bonny and James Ritchie, co-owners of the shop, said: “During the last year we’ve really upped our game; streamlining our marketing activities, expanding the shop to double the size of our restaurant facilities, and launching our very own children’s book to increase awareness of fish sourcing and species.
“We’ve really pushed the boundaries of that traditional, stereotypical ‘chippy’ image, developing a strong brand which can compete with some of the familiar big catering businesses brands that are found on the high streets of the UK.”
Over the past seven months Simpsons has been through a rigorous multi-stage process. It included several mystery shopping assessments and in-depth judging audits by industry experts.
The final stage of judging put the shop’s presentation skills to the test as they faced a 12-strong specialist industry judging panel and were up against the nine other regional finalists.
Chris Middleton, head of communications and marketing at Seafish, and chair of the judging panel, said: “Simpsons were without a doubt ready to be crowned champions – they represent a young, fresh face to the industry, backed up with tremendous experience and skill.
“They stood out for their robust sourcing policies, passionate work with local communities, innovative approach to branding and marketing, and continual business growth and expansion,” he added.
Now in its 28th year, the awards are a well-respected seafood industry event in the UK. Previous winners of the Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Award have reported sales increases of up to 100%.
“The aim of the National Fish & Chip Awards has always been to showcase the very best fish and chip businesses and individuals in the UK while setting incredibly high standards for the industry,” added Mel Groundsell, corporate relations Director at Seafish.
She concluded: “Every year Seafish sees new and more established talent vie for the top title, and the competition gets fiercer and more competitive each time.”
“I wish Simpsons all the best as they begin their journey as the UK’s top shop, but also thank them for upholding our high industry standards, helping us to reinforce the UK’s reputation as the home of the world’s best fish and chips.”
Runners up for the award included Kingfisher Fish & Chips in Plymouth Devon and The Cod’s Scallops, Nottingham.
