Ukraine war, Russia sanctions could batter British fish and chip shops
- Western sanctions on Russian entities and industries are being felt in the UK
- UK restaurants were already impacted by Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic
The UK’s iconic fish and chip shops could be facing their worst battering in decades, in part because of Western sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), the official body that represents the fish and chip industry, is warning that up to half the country’s 10,500 operators may shut or convert int0 chicken or kebab takeaways unless the UK government helps.
“The cost of fish is the highest it’s ever been – and this is all before the effects of sanctions on the Russian fish, which constitute half of our cod and haddock,” NFFF President Andrew Crook told South China Morning Post.
“We want to put pressure on the Russian regime, because what is going on in the Ukraine is awful. But sanctions might just take our industry with it.
“It’s impossible to replace the volume of fish in this country that comes from Russia – they are a massive white fish producer and it’s a frightening scenario.”
Western countries, including the UK, have responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with massive sanctions that have targeted Russian entities and industries.
