Boost for island as UK chain buys family fish and chip shop for £1m | UK | News
A popular local fish and chip shop has been sold to a small-scale chain for almost £1m after its owners closed the shop following cost increases. Beetons in Guernsey was opened by Kim and Andy Ashplant in 2000 and the following year was voted best on the island by BBC chefs Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Dickson Wright as part of their Two Fat Ladies program.
News of the closure this May, linked to “staff shortages and rising costs,” was unsurprisingly met with sadness from locals, with long-time customers praising the “wonderful staff” and “fabulous food.”
Months after Beetons served its last chippie meal, it was sold to a small-scale British chain for £975,000, but operational control was handed over to owner Merchants, which runs two existing stores in the West Midlands. Merchant owner Anthony Akathiotis, whose videos promoting his business with the help of social media stars have amassed more than 30 million views, said he was a long-time fan of the Channel Island’s favorite chippie.
“We came [to Guernsey] Many times a year for probably 15 years and we always wanted to have a store there,” Mr. Akathiotis said. Guernsey Press.
“When we were there we got our fish and chips from Beetons; it’s like a busboy’s holiday, they were the best on the island. We found out they were retiring and then [it’s just been about] negotiation.”
In addition to boosting the profile of their chippies through savvy social media campaigns, Merchants have won several awards, including the Seafish Friers Quality Award in 1996 and 1998.
Mr Akathiotis added: “The name will stay the same. It will be called Merchants@Beetons. We’ve been in this game as a family for 50 years. We’ve got a few changes to the menu, a few different items we’ve had to make, but we’re not reinventing the wheel.”
“Andy and Kim are lovely people and they’ve done a great job there, so we want to carry on their legacy. I love Guernsey, it’s a great environment. I love the sense of community. It’s just such a place.” [where] If you work hard you will do well.
“We have had staff in our stores for 20 years” [and] One of them will go out with me as I go back and forth to get the shop up and running, and then we want to train as many people there as possible.”
Fish and chip shops are among the small businesses hit by rising energy costs in recent years, while deep fryers have been hit particularly hard by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has disrupted supply chains for essential ingredients including cooking oil and white fish.
BusinessComparison’s analysis reveals that the average price of sausages and chips this autumn has risen by 120% since 2014, while cod and chips rose from £4.50 to more than £9.50 in the same time period.
