War in the Middle East: why the conflict threatens the traditional British fish and chips

There are approximately 10,500 Fish and Chips restaurants in the UK, which is more than the total of the nine most popular restaurant chains like KFC or McDonald’s.

The Easter period is a crucial time for players in this industry.

However, with the war in the Middle East, the bill for this fish-based dish is starting to rise.

The war in the Middle East continues to impact the global economy. With the rise in fuel prices, it’s now the turn of food to bear the brunt of the conflict. Especially fish and chips, a typically British dish particularly consumed during Easter, which is becoming increasingly expensive.

“Given the price of fuel, we fear that people will stop consuming as much fish and chips and go out to restaurants less often,” said Captain Peter Bruce to AFP. Before the war, a month ago, he spent 5,000 pounds on diesel to bring back haddock and cod from a mission in the North Sea, used to prepare the fish and chips. “It cost us 10,000 pounds on our last trip,” he explains, stating that he has already started to slow down the speed of his ship to try to save fuel. He assures that the annual additional cost could exceed 100,000 pounds, roughly 114,000 euros.

The fear of a rise in potato prices

A popular dish since the 1860s, once served in newspaper, fish and chips consist of a fried white fish fillet and fries, sometimes accompanied by mushy peas and tartar sauce. According to data from the public organization Seafish dating back to 2024, there are approximately 10,500 Fish and Chips restaurants in the UK, more than the total of the nine most popular restaurant chains, including KFC, McDonald’s, and Pizza Hut, as specified by the organization.

The difficulties are not only coming from the war in the Middle East, now in its second month, which has driven up oil prices, as well as gasoline and diesel whose March increase in the UK is unprecedented according to the Royal Automobile Club (RAC). Stricter fishing rules to preserve species, as well as the aftermath of the war in Ukraine – Russia was supplying 30 to 40% of the fish in the country – have already weakened it.

The increase in fertilizer prices, as well as energy prices, also raise concerns about a rise in potato prices. Andrew Crook, a restaurant owner in Lancashire offering his fish and chips for 11.45 pounds (about 13 euros), states that restaurateurs are seeking several ways to avoid raising prices, such as replacing traditional fish with cheaper options like North American hake or South African hake, or decreasing portion sizes.