Anstruther Fish Bar named MSC Foodservice champion
Anstruther Fish Bar in Fife, Scotland, has won the title of UK Foodservice Champion of the Year at the MSC annual awards ceremony.
The fish and chip shop, which became the world’s first MSC certified chippy in 2009, was honoured for being a trailblazer in the UK with many restaurants going on to follow in their footsteps. The business celebrated 12 years of serving sustainable seafood after being recertified in March this year.
The MSC UK annual awards, now in their 8th year, were streamed for a second-year running from the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth on earlier today.
Commenting on their win, Alison Smith, from Anstruther Fish Bar, said: “It’s a real honour to be recognised for our ongoing commitment to ensuring fish and chips for future generations. We will continue to put sustainability at the heart of our business.”
Describing Anstruther as “well-deserved winners”, Loren Hiller, MSC UK & Ireland commercial manager, added her congratulations, saying: “MSC certified fish and chip shops play a vital role in educating their customers and in ensuring every Fish Friday is a sustainable one. Anstruther are fantastic representatives, not just for the industry, but consumers too. By using the blue MSC ecolabel on their menu, they are not only helping customers identify sustainable fish and seafood, but also recognising and rewarding efforts made by fishermen to ensure our oceans remain healthy. Congratulations!”
A total of 16 awards were presented, with UK Foodservice Wholesaler of the Year going to Brakes and M&J , UK Fresh Fish Foodservice Supplier of the Year awarded to Direct Seafoods, and Cornish Hake being named UK Ocean Hero .
Fittingly, the winners’ awards were made using recycled fishing nets from the MSC certified hake fishery in Cornwall .
The full list of award winners for 2021:
MSC UK Fish Counter of the Year
Waitrose & Partners
MSC UK Fisher of the Year
Tom Russell, Poole Harbour clam and cockle fishery
MSC UK Foodservice Champion of the Year
Anstruther Fish Bar
MSC UK Foodservice Wholesaler of the Year
Brakes and M&J
MSC UK Fresh Fish Foodservice Supplier of the Year
Direct Seafoods
MSC UK Frozen Brand of the Year
Birds Eye
MSC UK Marketing Champion of the Year
Sainsbury’s
MSC UK Mid-size Store Retailer of the Year
Lidl
MSC UK Newcomer of the Year
Ella’s Kitchen
MSC UK Ocean Hero
Cornish Hake
MSC UK Pet Food Brand of the Year
Woofs
MSC UK Product of the Year
Waitrose No1 Yellowfin Tuna
MSC UK Retail Supplier of the Year
New England Seafood International
MSC UK Social Media Hero of the Year
Co-op
MSC UK Supermarket of the Year
Tesco
*Guest Award Category*
ASC UK Retailer of the Year
Lidl