On Sunday 1 March, the country’s biggest trade show for the independent chippy arrives in Bournemouth for the first time. This landmark event will bring around 1,400 fryers and suppliers to the town for a fun-packed feast of the latest and best products and services in the industry.
The FRY I.T. event is organised and run by Peterborough-based Friars Pride, a leading independent wholesaler. FRY I.T. is a familiar face pretty well everywhere north of London, with nothing to prove. So why Bournemouth. And why now? According to Marketing Director Louise Marshall, there are lots of very good reasons.
Infographic (Click to View)
Fish and chips is booming. It’s a 150 year-old, £1.2 billion industry, with Brits eating 382 million portions a year, more than any other takeaway food. FRY I.T. 2015 is on a mission to grow this thriving industry along the whole of the South and Southwest of England.
“When we acquired Doubles Food and Drink in Poole, Dorset in 2013, it gave us a strong presence in the region. So bringing the show to Bournemouth is a great way for us to get closer to our customers,” says Louise Marshall. “There are hundreds of independent retailers operating throughout the South and South West and this is our chance to meet many of them for the first time – and explain how we can help new shops get started and existing ones to grow.
“We’re putting in a huge effort to make FRY I.T. 2015 in Bournemouth extra special. To coincide with the launch of our Marketing Club, which took place in 2014, we’re running special business seminars:
- Rachel Tweedale, Lincolnshire, UK National Young Fish Frier of The Year 2015 – speaking to get others inspired to take part.
- Burton Road Chippy, Lincolnshire, National Winners of The Best Fish & Chip Restaurant and Winner of The National Staff Training and Development Award – talking about why shops should invest in staff training.
- Poppies Fish & Chips, London, National Winner of The Marketing Innovation Award – presenting Marketing Your Business through Social Media.
- Friars Pride – presenting the Hook & Fish packaging range in the context of refreshing shop image through good packaging and product presentation.
“Bournemouth International Centre is a fabulous venue, well known throughout the region for its trade shows, conferences, exhibitions and top entertainment acts from all over the world. And it’s just right for our business and, importantly, our trade.
“We are hoping to generate a lot of interest and build relationships with regional traders the way we have with our other depots. It’s also a great opportunity for them to see the latest innovations at first hand, sample new and well-known products and get connected with fish fryers from all over the country.”
As a family business, Friars Pride wants visitors to bring their families along and make a day – or even a weekend – of it.“We’ll have face painting, balloon modelling, competitions and other kids’ activities on site. And we’re hoping many will make the most of their visit – and maybe take a few days to enjoy all that Bournemouth has to offer.”
They’ll be in very good company. Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch has over 100 fish and chip outlets. Just a short stroll from the venue is the iconic Harry Ramsden’s, the largest fish and chip restaurant in the world, waving the flag for fish and chips as the country’s favourite meal out. Following a £1 million refurbishment, the restaurant overlooking Bournemouth beach and promenade now caters for 417 diners, employs 125 people and expects to serve more than a million customers a year. That’s 268 tonnes of chips, 90 tonnes of cod, 21 tonnes of mushy peas, 10 tonnes of tartare sauce and 8 tonnes of ketchup. Founded by the Yorkshire fish and chip operator in 1928, Harry Ramsden’s, already holds the title of Britain’s longest established restaurant chain.
A couple of miles away in fashionable Westbourne is the family-run Chez Fred, a Friars Pride customer and ranked among The Sunday Times ‘Top 130 restaurants to eat out for under £50’ for the second year running. “There has been a huge change in the perception of what a fish & chip shop can be,” says owner Fred Capel, and an awards panel member at the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) awards. “People used to think it was an easy option. Now, chefs are coming in and giving it a hell of a lot of respect.(1) ” Not least, Rick Stein, rumoured to be interested in the now-vacant Café Shore at Sandbanks. Nearby, Lakeside Fish & Chips at Lifeboat Quay, Poole, was one of 12 shortlisted as one of the UK’s top 12 in a national competition and a finalist in the Independent Fish and Chip Restaurant of the Year, part of the 2015 National Fish and Chip Awards organised by Seafish.
So where is fish and chips in the healthy eating pecking order? Not where you’d expect. According to the NFFF, the meal provides one-third of the recommended daily allowance of vitamins for men and nearly half for women. Fish and chips make a balanced, nutritious meal and are a valuable source of protein, fibre, iron and vitamins. What’s more, the saturated fat content for an average portion of fish, chips and peas is just 2.8%, compared with 13.2% in an individual pork pie and 14.9% in a chicken salad wrap.
Encouraged by these statistics, retailers are actively promoting the relative health benefits of their food, with independent nutritional analysis of their dishes, grilled low-carb alternatives and more than a nod of respect towards gluten- and dairy-free options. “Because we are constantly handling flour in our kitchens, we can never guarantee that anything is completely gluten-free for high levels of intolerance, although we are currently addressing this and are actively engaged in talks with industry bodies who represent the interests of those who are gluten-intolerant.” says Chris Walter, Head of Operations at the award winning Harry Ramsden’s which currently holds the title of Bournemouth’s Restaurant of the Year. “That said, we currently do offer a range of gluten-free options on our menus so that everyone can still enjoy meals together in our restaurants.”
Outlets are also becoming more environmentally responsible, with recyclable packaging and sourcing fish from sustainable fisheries and vegetables from local growers.
Many shops now source fish from MSC-approved Norwegian and Icelandic fisheries, follow buying advice from the Marine Conservation Society, or like the local chain Harlees, serve one or more sustainable species that are fully traceable from net-to-fryer. Friars Pride, organisers of FRY I.T., are launching a new recyclable formed card tray at the event that they hope will be attractive to coastal businesses for its environmental benefits(2).
Fish frying is also becoming a cool thing to do. In 2011, awards organisers Seafish introduced a Best Newcomer gong to acknowledge the growing network of new independents. Many of them are individuals looking for a new angle on life, like Craig Buckley, a 27-year old former estate agent who now runs two shops in Crewe and a teaches at the NFFF training school in Leeds. Or young fryers like Rachel Tweedale, this year’s Young Fish Frier of the Year and one of FRY I.T.’s guest presenters “I’d like to inspire rising young fryers to enter the awards next year as it provides an excellent opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and first-hand experience, especially by attending the educational study trips as a finalist. I’m really looking forward to the next year, it’s going to be an honour holding this title.”
References
[1]http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jan/23/britains-best-fish-and-chip-shops
(2)http://friarspride.com/news/introducing-exciting-new-hook-fish-formed-tray/
—-Ends—–
Notes to the editor
About BH Live
BH Live is the South Coast’s leading operator of leisure and event venues – a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives. With over 2.5 million visits a year and over £31 million turnover, the organisation is changing lives – placing it at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy. In 2013/14, BH Live hosted 423 shows, sold over half a million cultural, sporting and entertainment tickets, clocked up 1.8 million leisure centre visits and welcomed 88,000 conference and exhibition delegates which contributed over £45 million to the local economy.
About Bournemouth International Centre (BIC)
Bournemouth International Centre is managed and operated by BH Live in partnership with Bournemouth Borough Council. Hosting over 45 conferences and exhibitions a year and with licensed capacity for 10,000 delegates, it is the South Coast’s largest and most versatile event venue. The centre attracts major players in the public and private sector, bringing millions of pounds into the local economy through employment, business tourism and partner organisations.
For further press information:
Elizabeth Symmons
PR & Corporate Communications Executive, BH Live
Elizabeth.Symmons@bhlive.co.uk