In the wake of the United Kingdom exiting the European Union, or “Brexit,” fish and chips meals are expected to receive a steeper price tag as the value of sterling continues to fall – a symptom of the country’s decision, according to The Daily Mail.
Because much of the cod and haddock used by the 10,500 shops in Britain dedicated to making the beloved chips dish – the shops are estimated to collectively sell 380 million meals each year – is imported, it will have to contend with the pound’s plummet against the dollar. Many large retailers, such as Tesco and Asda, are afforded some form of protection against this currency fluctuation, still having long-term supply contracts in place as they do. However, fishmongers and other more independent players have been left exposed, according to The Daily Mail.
Furthermore, some are worried that importers to Britain, mainly Iceland and Norway, will stop sending their catch to the region if the pound falls much further than it already has against other currencies.
Salmon and squid, like haddock and cod, have also risen in price in response to the pound’s fall, and shellfish costs could rise as much as 20 percent, said Gary Hooper, owner of GCH Fishmongers in Bedford.
“We tried to buy some shellfish this morning ... and our suppliers advised us to buy now because the price is going to go up,” Hooper told The Daily Mail.
“If I had a big freezer I'd buy it now,” he added.
