Rockfish scoops two national awards
Rockfish in Devon has fried out on top at the 2017 National Fish & Chip Awards (26 January), organised by Seafish.
The chain of shops and restaurants was crowned with the Good Catch – The Sustainable Seafood Award and the Best Multiple Fish and Chip Operator Award during a prestigious ceremony at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London – an event widely regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the fish and chip industry.
Jointly sponsored by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), and fish supply brand Norfisk, the Good Catch – The Sustainable Seafood Award recognises businesses that have strong and robust policies and procedures in place regarding the responsible sourcing of fish and shellfish. Judges appraised how well Rockfish performed at educating and informing customers on the sustainability credentials of seafood, as well hearing how the shop plans to build on their progress over the coming year.
The Best Multiple Fish and Chip Operator Award, co-sponsored by JJ Food Service Limited and Unique Seafood Limited, rewards businesses that have three or more outlets. With five establishments across Devon based in Brixham, Dartmouth, Plymouth, Exmouth and Torquay, Rockfish was assessed across a wide range of judging criteria including outlet appearance and facilities, menu development and innovation, supplier relationships, marketing and promotion activity, and staff development and training practices. Awards auditors also undertook mystery dining visits to appraise customer service levels and the quality of fish and chips on offer.
Commenting on their award win after receiving the distinguished trophy from awards host, Nigel Barden, voice of food and drink on BBC Radio 2, Head of Communications, Laura Cowan, said: “Winning both of these awards is absolutely amazing! We are incredibly proud that the ethos at the core of our business has put us at the top of what is an incredibly competitive industry. We are growing, but doing so sustainably, and cannot wait to share this with our team!
“Sustainability is something we are passionate about, rather than something we practice to ‘tick a box’. Our access to and relationships with the local fish markets mean that our fish is landed and served the same day. We work to educate our customers on the sustainability of the industry by varying our menu depending on what is available that day, while offering £3 portions from our takeaways once a month with a different, responsibly sourced fish each time.
“With premises along Southern England, we aim to give back to the local communities that support us. We have optional £1 donations at all of our restaurants, with proceeds going to local community projects and initiatives. It is also our aim to make seafood accessible to everyone – whether it’s a family with four kids hungry for classic fish and chips, or a couple looking for some grilled monkfish - we strive to provide the best for all our customers.”
Marcus Coleman, Chief Executive at Seafish, commented: “The aim of the National Fish & Chip Awards has always been to showcase the very best fish and chip businesses and individuals in the UK while setting incredibly high standards for the rest of the fish and chip industry to aspire to.
“The Good Catch Award has always been a fundamental category as it represents everything that the awards stand for; ensuring a sustainable future for the fish and chip industry. Not only are Rockfish helping deliver this ambition, they are doing it across multiple establishments. They should be incredibly proud; winning two awards is a fantastic achievement.”
Award co-sponsor George Clark, UK Commercial Manager at MSC, stated: “It’s fantastic to see so many businesses embracing sustainability. This speaks wonders for the future of our industry.
“The standards of entries this year were outstanding, making the judging process quite challenging. However, Rockfish proved that the sky’s the limit when it comes to giving their customers fully traceable and sustainable fish suppers. I hope that many more fish and chip businesses follow their lead.”
Samuel Stone, Head of Fisheries & Aquaculture at the Marine Conservation Society, said: “It’s been great to see a range of promising new entries for this award, but this year, experience and understanding of sustainable seafood issues has paid off for Rockfish. For several years, they have taken steps to keep improving the sustainability of their seafood and they do a great job of communicating this to their customers and the wider public. Well done.”
Award co-sponsor Steven Tilston, Managing Director of Maris seafood and marketers of Norfisk, commented: “As a company that is passionate about sustainable line-caught products, it’s been an honour to support an award category that shares our business values.
“Rockfish demonstrated that they are true UK leaders in this field, going above and beyond to ensure a vibrant future for the wider fish and chip industry in addition to focusing on their own menu offering.”
Joint award sponsor Terry Larkin, Group General Manager at JJ Food Service Limited, added: “The standard of entrants this year was phenomenal. In particular, we were impressed with the extraordinary measures each and every one of them has taken to satisfy their respective customers.
“Rockfish stood out to us as a business that continually strives for excellence. We wish them the best for the future.”
Now in their 29th year, The National Fish & Chip Awards are recognised as one of the most prominent and respected seafood industry events in the UK. They celebrate the Great British tradition of fish and chips, showcasing the best talent, quality and choice offered by fish and chip businesses through 14 different award categories.
For more information visit www.fishandchipawards.com or follow @FishnChipAwards #FishnChipAwards.
