Baked beans, roast dinners, scones. All proper British staples but nothing will ever beat the statement of fish and chips! Some may say it is the heart of British food culture and we cannot deny it. The first Friday in June (can you believe it’s already June?) marks National Fish & Chip day, making it the perfect excuse to go all out today.

Every year, Brits consume around 382 million meals from fish and chip shops, including 167 million portions of the classic combo. And while the classic fish and chips is the supreme order, many still add battered sausage, scampi and curry sauce to the mix.

Tracing back to East London in the 1860’s, the story of fish and chips begins. This is where Joseph Malin opened one of the first combined fish and chip shops. The dish gained popularity and by the 1930s there were more than 35,000 fish and chip shops across the UK! During World War II its significance was credited. At a time when most of British food faced rations, fish and chips was spared. This was due to the boost in national morale this dish gave. Since then it has served as a staple for the working class with prices around £8-£10 for a hearty portion.

You can find the fish and chips is a staple everywhere. On family dinner tables, seaside trips and traditions like Fishy Fridays in schools, restaurants and care homes. And even with the influx of fast food chains like Mcdonald’s and KFC, fish and chip shops are still taking the crown. With around 10,500 shops nationwide, it proves that the meal isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

There has been a change in how the industry has developed.  Many are now embracing more sustainable practices like responsible sourcing of fish to recyclable packaging. It always great to see that companies are trying to adapt to consumers preferences, supporting both communities and our oceans.