04/10/2026
10 SHOCKING FACTS ABOUT THE PRICE OF COD AND THE FUTURE OF FISH & CHIPS
People see the price of fish and chips going up and wonder why. But here’s what’s happening behind the scenes in our industry.
1/ UK cod import prices rose from £5.09/kg in 2021 to £6.65/kg in 2022. That’s a 31% increase in just one year. It’s now between £16-£18/kg and still rising.
2/ Britain spent more money importing less cod. Import volumes fell from 96,373 tonnes to 84,803 tonnes between 2021 and 2022, while the total bill increased.
3/ Cod prices have doubled for fish friers, according to industry comments reported in 2026.
4/ The 2026 Northeast Arctic cod quota fell to 285,000 tonnes its lowest level since 1991 putting further pressure on supply.
5/ Global frozen cod imports fell by around 15% in 2025 while their total value increased. Less fish more money.
6/ The UK imposed an additional 35% tariff on Russian origin seafood in July 2022, adding another cost and supply chain complication.
7/ The average fish and chip supper reached £11.17 in May 2026, compared with £6.65 in 2020. That’s roughly a 68% increase.
8/,Every extra £5 per kilo costs a shop another 50p on a 100g portion of fish. Multiply that across hundreds of portions and the numbers soon become frightening.
9/ Alternative white fish are becoming increasingly important. Hake, po***ck and ling can offer alternatives but availability, quality and prices must all be considered.
10/Don’t expect a guaranteed return to cheap cod. Supply restrictions and market uncertainty mean prices could remain high, although nobody can predict exactly where they’ll go next.
Here’s the reality for us at Plessey chippy.
My reported annual cod bill has gone from £27,040 to £62,400. That’s an extra £35,360 a year or around £680 every week. Think about that for a moment. That’s money we have to find before we’ve even paid the wages, electricity, rent, oil, rates and all the other bills that keep the doors open. Fish and chip shops aren’t simply putting prices up for the fun of it. We’re trying to keep a traditional British industry alive while costs continue to squeeze us from every direction.
I truly believe in serving great fish, generous portions and fair value. But there’s a limit to how much a small independent business can absorb. Weather it’s my shop or one closer to your homes Support your local chippy. Behind every portion is a real business, real people and a mountain of bills.
