Fish and chip shops are facing crisis due to the war in Ukraine.
Fish and chip shops are facing crisis as a result of the war in Ukraine
A national shortage of sunflower oil caused by the conflict with Russia means that prices of the key ingredient have rocketed and a third of chippies could close by the end of the year.
The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) has warned that around 3,500 of the 10,500 fish and chip shops in the UK could be forced out of business due to the shortage, especially as Ukraine is the globe's largest producer and exporter of sunflower oil.
NFFF president Andrew Crook - who runs his own fish and chip shop in Lancashire - said: "We've just come through one major crisis with the pandemic - now we're in this crisis which is even bigger. All our costs are going up as everyone's disposable income is going down.
"There will definitely be closures. I think (in) six months, probably a third of shops will close. We are really vulnerable. It's the biggest crisis we've ever faced."