Carlo’s of Morpeth chippy has won a top accolade, clearing another hurdle in the march towards a national title.
It was today named as the top fish and chip shop in Northumberland, Couny Durham and Tyne & Wear as it competes to be crowned Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year, as part of the 2015 National Fish and Chip Awards, organised by Seafish.
Carlo’s, which was established in Alnwick in 1989, then opened in Morpeth in 2011, will now ‘fry’ for glory against Mister C’s in Selby, North Yorkshire, to determine the overall winning shop for the North East.
Each will be judged by an industry expert as they undergo un-announced judging visits and will be assessed on a wide range of criteria, including product quality, sustainable sourcing policies, marketing initiatives and customer service. The victor will then compete against nine other regional winners at the national final.
The awards, which culminate in a ceremony at The Lancaster London Hotel on January 20, 2015, recognise the quality and choice offered by fish and chip businesses across the UK. Every year, event organisers Seafish seek out the best talent to recognise those achieving the highest standards in the fish-frying industry.
Paul Williams, chief executive of Seafish, said: “Seafish has organised the awards for the past 27 years with the aim of showcasing the very best, while setting increasingly high standards for the industry.
“I would like to offer up my congratulations to the shortlisted shops and wish them the best of luck as they battle for the regional winner title. The bar is constantly rising and I can’t wait to see the top fryers go head-to-head at this year’s awards ceremony.”
In October, Seafish will announce the top 10 regional shops competing for the flagship award. These shops will then be invited on a study trip to Norway, organised by award sponsor the Norwegian Seafood Council, to see first-hand why Norway is regarded as one of the world’s most sustainable fishing nations.