Fish and chip shops on the brink of closure have faced startling price rises of more than 13%, new analysis shows - but business owners warn the picture is even bleaker.
Industry bosses fear the cost of living crisis could force 3,000 of the UK's estimated 10,500 chippies to close as Brits will no longer have the cash for the traditional treat.
Research by the Labour Party found that the price of flour and cereals have risen by 19.3% in the past year, while fish is up by 8% and oils and fats by 16.6%.
Tories have been accused of being "preoccupied with a self-indulgent leadership contest" as businesses face being dragged down by the crisis.
The UK imports large quantities of whitefish from Russia and sunflower oil from Ukraine, meaning Vladimir Putin's war is taking a devastating toll on the trade.
Andrew Crook, who has been running Skippers of Euxton in Lancashire for the past 17 years, told The Mirror: "It feels like we've been abandoned. Everybody listens but nobody acts. I've never seen anything like this."
He said that businesses like his own - which employs nine people - are facing difficult choices about passing price rises onto customers.
Andrew said: "I lost money in the last quarter, and there's only so many quarters where you can do that."
He said that Labour's figures do not reveal the scale of the problems facing the industry, adding that a cod order that would previously have cost £140 set him back £230 last week.
"It's horrific," he said. "It's so hard to run a small shop now, it's just so expensive just to stand still."
Mr Crook said customers are still lining up for their fish and chip supper, but fears for the winter when energy bills will squeeze the amount of spare cash households have. "People's disposable income will dry up just, we need a long term strate.
"We've got to cushion customers as much as we can. Fish prices are going to be high for the next five years I expect."
Jim McMahon, Shadow Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Secretary said: “The Conservative cost of living crisis is threatening one of Britain’s favourite meals, fish and chips, and hardworking family-run chippies across the country.
"While the Tories are preoccupied with a self-indulgent leadership contest, British businesses are suffering, and British people are facing rising food prices.
"Labour would support British chippies by scrapping and replacing business rates with a fairer system which helps our high streets thrive."
A Defra spokesperson said: “We know fish and chips shops are a well-loved British tradition, and we are working closely with industry, including the National Federation of Fish Fryers, to mitigate the challenges that they are facing. We are monitoring all key commodities and will continue to do so.
“The UK stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine and we will continue to ratchet the pressure to isolate the Russian economy and inflict maximum damage to Putin's regime.”
