Gills Fish and Chip owner on impact of cost of living crisis
Gills Fish and Chips was first established in 1971. Since then, the family-run business has branched out to seven locations across the North East, including a shop in Ponteland.
In recent times, however, the fish and chip shop business, like so many others all over the country, has felt the pinch of the cost of living crisis.
Shop owner Sonny Gill said, “It just feels hard. It feels very hard. We have conversations about survival every single day, and nobody sees the light at the end of the tunnel.
“If the government don’t do something to help, like lowering VAT, in the next six to twelve months we will see 1000s of fish and chip shops close.
“The general consensus is that the industry has 20 years left.”
The price rises can be seen in the Gills Fish and Chip shops too, with prices jumping from £7.95 pre-covid, to now being £14.99 for the same portion.
Sonny says this is down to a number of factors. He lists energy, gas, produce, minimum wage, national insurance and general tax increases as the biggest impactors. As well as complications arising from supply due to the Russia-Ukraine war and Brexit.
“We used to buy fish in at £110 a box, that same box is now £290. It’s the same with potatoes. A bag that used to cost £4.50 is now costing between £12-15
“We’re having to change the way we do business to try and keep the prices competitive, but we can’t even compete.”
“It’s not just the fish and potato prices, it’s everything: gas, electric, minimum wage, National Insurance and 20% VAT – which just absolutely kills us. And it’s a tax on a tax on a tax.”
More and more, Sonny is seeing and hearing about angry customers in his shops who complain about the price increases.
“Some customers are understanding.” Said Sonny. “Some are aggressive towards the staff and are violent. Some are storming out, punching windows or doors as they’re leaving
“Nothing’s changed in our portion or our product, but we’re getting customers complaining, trying to get their money back because it’s an expensive meal now.”
Another fish and chip shop owner affected by the cost of living crisis is Andrew Crook.
“At the moment, we’re just getting suffocated and with no growth in the country, something has to change.
“I think ultimately government has to start listening. They need to engage with my organisation, they need to engage with other parts of the sector and start looking after independent shops.”