A body representing takeaways across Northern Ireland has warned that businesses will close if support is not offered to their industry.
The Northern Ireland Takeaway Association fears that without financial support and tax relief, they could see a quarter of takeaways forced to shut shop.
While prices of fish and chicken increase, alongside spiralling energy costs and the end of the rates holiday, some takeaway owners do not know what the future will bring for their team of staff and loyal customers.
Read more: Belfast takeaways plea to order direct due to impact of third-party platforms
Speaking to Belfast Live, NI Takeaway Association boss Michael Henderson, echoed calls for Stormont and the British Government to step in and offer assistance.
He said: "We have been going for three and a half years now and I am the founder. I have been in the industry for about ten years and I kept hearing the same thing over and over again - that there was no support.
"Our industry is very diverse, from every ethnically minority group to every cuisine type you can think of. It was never really under one umbrella, so that is why I decided to start the NI Takeaway Association, to bring everyone together.
"We have close to 500 members now and an expert panel board to help us steer forward.
"When restrictions kicked in, they hit our industry really hard, but we obliged to all of the rules and when we came through that, the war happened.
"That is another tidal wave of issues that is hitting the takeaway industry. Everything seems to be going up in price, and that is frightening. The VAT of 20% is going to be the reason that a quarter of our takeaways will close.
"This week I spoke to a member in Strabane, who are closing, so this is not a city issue, not a Belfast issue. This is a Northern Ireland wide issue and a UK issue. You have at least one takeaway in every community across Northern Ireland.
"You couldn't say that about any other industry."
Michael said he has heard of numerous takeaways closing in the last number of weeks, due to financial pressures.
And while it hurts the owners and staff, it also has a knock-on effect to the community it has served for years.
He added: "Our team are hearing heartbreaking stories and it's from takeaways who have been in business for decades.
"These takeaways are at the heart of their communities - despite all the challenges they have faces, they're getting involved with youth clubs and sponsoring local sports teams.
"When the takeaways go, those sponsorship go too. I was in a takeaway in West Belfast last week and they were finishing up their stock before closing. A staff member started to cry. Her kids are starting school in September and she now is going to be without a job.
"With takeaways, they offer flexible working hours, the type of hours that suit people who may have a young family at home.
"Listening to those stories it is heartbreaking. It's the fear that we will hear more of these closures in the time to come if we do not get support from both Stormont and the UK Government."
Gavin Brown, owns Browns Chippy on the Suffolk Road in West Belfast and explained the increase in costs they are seeing each day.
He said: "We opened 14 years ago and we haven't looked back. There has been a lot of hurdles - we had Brexit and it was hard on us and then Covid came.
"Now, we are feeling the effects of the Ukraine war - prices are just going up and up. All stock is going through the roof and we are seeing crazy prices.
"We are a community chippy and our customers are all based around us here and it's tough, but we are going to have to pass that price onto the customer in order to stay in business. It is heartbreaking but that is the reality of what the takeaway industry is going through right now.
"Chicken prices are going up every other day. Cheese prices are through the roof. Potatoes. Fish. Everything is going up. Electric and gas have both doubled and then the 20% VAT is a total killer.
"There are a lot of people using third party platforms to order, and it would be a massive help if they came to us directly. That would help local businesses out.
"Browns are loyal to our community, we always have been and love the community. We sponsor local sports teams and want to continue that on. It's a knock on effect that the takeaway industry is seeing, it's not just the business owners, it is their staff too who are feeling the pinch.
"I think if government relooked at the VAT, 20% is a total killer. They had it at 12.5% and it was more manageable. It's thought they will relook at it in October but between now and then, places will close in that time. Two in the local area are closing in the next couple of weeks.
"If we didn't own the premises, and were paying rent, we would never be able to stay open."
Joe Morgan owns Nemos, which is based in Finaghy in Belfast, and he has also saw huge price hikes in most things from fish to vegetable oil.
"Right across the board, everything price wise has gone up and the worst thing for us is the price of fish," Joe told Belfast Live.
"It has gone from about £155 for three stone, and now it is now over £308 now. It has hit hard and we are feeling it from all angles. Nothing at all is going down in price, nothing.
"Working in a fish and chip shop isn't a highly paid job and the cost of living has gone through the roof. There is a place in Whiterock that closed down this week, that is heartbreaking for all of us to see.
"There's wee chip shops in local estates who just can't afford to put prices up. We have come out of a recession, into Covid and now into a war. It has been hit, after hit, after hit.
"The VAT is killing us. We need support and we need it now. We're getting nothing. Even if they could drop that VAT threshold back down, we could maybe survive. The rates holiday is about to end, and that is pretty scary."
For the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter here.
