SCOTTISH CHIPPY CLEANS UP AT NATIONAL FISH & CHIP AWARDS WITH SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE

Scottish chippy cleans up at National Fish & Chip Awards with sustainability prize. The Real Food Café in Tyndrum, Perthshire, has made green the gold standard by being named the winner of the Environment and Sustainable Business category – sponsored by Seafood from Norway – at last week’s National Fish & Chip Awards, which was hosted by broadcaster and comedian Stephen Mangan.

The UK fish and chip industry’s official and longest-standing awards is known as the sector’s barometer for best practice and the 38^th edition was a fantastic celebration of movers and shakers that are committed to the preservation of fish and chip traditions and its place in British culture.

The fish frying experts who run the competition have designed a process which is unlike any other in the nation and inspects businesses taking part in great detail. For the Environment and Sustainable Business Award, approaches to resource management, the effectiveness to engage employees and customers in achieving sustainability goals, food waste reduction, supply chain efficiency and responsible product sourcing were just some of the areas where excellence was a necessity.

The finalists, which included Harbour Lights in Falmouth, Cornwall and The Fish Works in Largs, Scotland, have done themselves and the industry proud with a ‘consistency over compromise’ approach despite current industry pressures, but it was the Real Food Café that received the Environment and Sustainable Business trophy for its fantastic mix of changes, awareness raising and impact.

The team at the road-side hotspot is pulling out all the stops for a sustainability-first approach. By using MSC-certified fish, the chippy champions responsible and fully traceable sourcing. Smarter and more considered operations have reduced food purchases and waste, while allowing for more portions to be served.

Filtration has extended oil life, with used supplies and other products collected for recycling, alongside other successes like its compostable packaging and community litter-picking meetups.

An audit on the premises and operating methods has resulted in upgrades to the lighting, windows and equipment for enhanced performance. The full team took part in an educational workshop at the University of Stirling, which will now see the development of a carbon reduction plan.

Owner Sarah Heward, who has been dubbed the ‘nature hero’ by her co-workers, regularly attends and speaks at environment, sustainability and governance (ESG) events. She says:

“We’re incredibly proud to have won the Environment and Sustainable Business award — it’s such a vital category, and being recognised at a national level truly validates the hard work and shared commitment of our whole team.

“Since day one, we’ve focused on building a business that operates as sustainably as possible — leading on environmental responsibility, supporting our people, and giving back to the community.”

Sarah adds:

“We’re proudly MSC certified. Just like the MSC, we are committed to safeguarding the future of our oceans and fish stocks that our industry depends on. We source locally wherever possible and continually work to reduce the carbon footprint of our operation.

“Living and working in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is a constant reminder of why sustainability matters. Our environment is incredibly precious, and we all have a role in protecting it — which is why we organise monthly litter-picking events and to date, with our volunteers, we’ve already collected over eight tonnes of litter from the area.”

The annual event is put together by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), Andrew Crook is the president and he comments that the new champion has proved that responsible business does pay off. “There are no shortcuts to becoming a credible, sustainable fish and chip operator and each year with Environment and Sustainable Business we see the standards being upheld to the highest degree.

“The Real Food Café has genuinely raised the bar which is an incredible achievement given the tough trading conditions. Customers are also much more discerning and want to know that the food is the best quality, but sustainability also carries the same importance. Our 2026 winner is a shining example of how responsible practice and commercial success go hand in hand when passion and full commitment are central to the cause.”

Category sponsor Seafood from Norway is also the lead partner of the National Fish & Chip Awards. Bjørn-Erik Stabell, UK Country Director for the Norwegian Seafood Council, adds:

“It’s fantastic that this year’s award has gone to a business that is so clearly committed to the future of the fish and chip industry and demonstrates this with its approach to sustainable business day in, day out.

“The Real Food Café has shown that sustainable practices, from quality sourcing through to resource management, aren’t just a nice-to-have but are an integral part of commercial success too.”

He continued:

“As a long-term ally of this industry, Seafood from Norway looks forward to supporting The Real Food Café with its sustainability and business endeavours throughout 2026.”

The Real Food Café and the other winners from the awards have been invited on an exclusive study trip to Norway, hosted on board the long-liner vessel Geir, where they will see first-hand how Norwegian seafood is responsibly sourced at sea. The visit will give operators direct insight into the country’s science-led fisheries model, helping to bring origin, provenance and sustainability to life.

For more information and bits on the National Fish & Chip Awards, please visit: www.nfff.co.uk/awards.

Image: NFFF