The Ceres Podcast

In Episode 249 of The Ceres Podcast, Mark Petrou is joined by Kate Mills, Business Development Manager at Stokes Sauces. Kate shares her remarkable journey from growing up in a family-run hairdressing business, through careers in textile design, sportswear and insurance, to becoming one of the most recognisable figures in the UK fish & chip industry. Along the way she explains how family values, creativity and a passion for people shaped her approach to business. The conversation then explores the story behind Stokes Sauces, from Rick Sheepshank's commitment to quality ingredients and British manufacturing, to building an award-winning brand now sold around the world. Mark and Kate also take a deep dive into the changing foodservice landscape, discussing: How GLP-1 weight loss medication is changing customer behaviour. Why protein is becoming a major purchasing driver. The growth of fried chicken and what it means for fish & chip shops. Portion sizes, menu engineering and improving margins. Consumer trends, online ordering and attracting younger customers. Why premium condiments can elevate both the customer experience and profitability. Rather than simply identifying challenges, Kate shares practical ideas that fish & chip shop owners can implement today to remain relevant, profitable and competitive in a rapidly evolving market. Sharpen your decision making with the Ceres Calculators . Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Podcast 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and receive monthly offers.

In Episode 248 of the Ceres Podcast Podsquad, Stelios Theocharous is joined by David Miller, Kelly Barnes and Mark Petrou for another wide-ranging discussion on the biggest issues currently affecting fish & chip shops. This episode covers: • The latest market update on cod, haddock, hake and potato prices. • Why falling potato prices may not last as long as many expect. • The UK's new Statutory Sick Pay changes and what they mean for independent businesses. • How employers can balance supporting genuine illness while protecting their businesses. • Handling customer complaints, online reviews and protecting staff morale. • Whether farmed cod could become part of the future of the fish & chip industry. • Insights from the English Fish & Chip Awards. • Trading through extreme summer temperatures and adapting staffing to changing customer demand. • Practical discussions on stock control, labour planning and maintaining profitability during quieter trading periods. As always, the Podsquad shares honest opinions, practical experience and real-world advice from operators who work in the industry every day. Hosts: Stelios Theocharous David Miller Kelly Barnes Mark Petrou Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Podcast 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

Cos Michael returns to the Ceres Podcast for a follow-up conversation, building on the discussion from Episode 230 . In this episode, we explore some of the biggest challenges currently facing fish and chip shop operators, from fish supply and rising costs to changing customer behaviour and the realities of modern trade. Cos also shares a remarkable EHO inspection story that resulted in a long-standing five-star business being downgraded overnight, before successfully challenging the decision through the appeals process. From there, we discuss why speed, simplicity and operational efficiency are becoming increasingly important, whether many businesses are carrying more complexity than they need, and how operators can make better decisions using strategic frameworks such as the Boston Matrix. We finish by discussing the newly rebuilt Ceres Calculator Suite and why understanding your numbers is essential for making better business decisions in today's market. In this episode: Current trading conditions across the industry Fish supply challenges and alternative species Rising costs and changing customer expectations Lunch trade, menu design and service speed A real-life EHO inspection and appeal The hidden cost of complexity Menu engineering and operational efficiency The Boston Matrix explained simply Strategic thinking for fish and chip shops The importance of understanding your numbers The new Ceres Calculator Suite If you haven't already listened to it, make sure you also check out Episode 230 , where Cos and I discussed staffing, customer service, technology, CRM systems, delivery platforms and the evolution of the fish and chip industry. Sharpen your decision making with the Ceres Calculators . Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Podcast 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and receive monthly offers.

In episode #246 of The Ceres Podcast, Stelios is joined by the Podsquad team — Kelly Barnes, David Miller, David Nicolaou and Mark Petrou — for a May roundtable on the realities facing fish and chip operators right now. The discussion covers trade in 2026, changing customer behaviour, rising food and supply chain pressures, pricing, market updates, social media, online reputation, copycat businesses, alternative fish species, and the difficult commercial decisions behind closing a site. Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Podcast 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

In this episode of The Ceres Podcast, Stelios is joined by Jamie Russo from Redcloak Fish Bar in Stonehaven and Charlie Collins from Frydales in Leicester for an honest operator-to-operator conversation about the current state of the fish and chip industry. Originally planned as a Q&A episode, the conversation quickly turns into a deep discussion around what's really happening in the trade right now: Are shops actually making money? Why are fish prices still so volatile? Are delivery apps helping or hurting independent shops? Does the traditional fish and chip shop model still work in 2025? Are menus becoming too big and complicated? Why are customers spending differently now? And what happens next for the industry? Jamie and Charlie both run successful fish and chip businesses day-to-day and are former Young Fish Frier of the Year winners, bringing practical insight from two very different parts of the UK. This episode covers everything from cod vs haddock, frozen-at-sea fish, potato pricing, staffing pressures and rising costs, through to pizza businesses, customer psychology, supermarket competition and the changing future of takeaway food. A candid, unscripted discussion between three operators living the realities of the trade every day. Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Podcast 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

In Episode 244 of the Ceres Podcast, Stelios introduces the first Welsh roundtable, hosted by Zohaib Hussain of Zero Plus Fish Bar in Cardiff. Joining him are Ryan Hughes of Ship Deck Fish and Chips in Caerphilly, Danny White Mier of Enochs in North Wales, and Jemma Hennighan Evans of Hennighans in Mid Wales. Together, they discuss what fish and chip shop operators across Wales are seeing on the ground right now: getting more customers through the door, the reality of delivery platforms, how digital content and branding affect sales, the challenge of moving customers beyond cod, and where the industry may be heading over the next decade. This is a practical, honest operator conversation covering pricing, community, menu development, customer behaviour, marketing, and the changing shape of the fish and chip trade in Wales. Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Podcast 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

Mark Petrou is joined by Dr Claire Markham of Nottingham Trent University to discuss the social, cultural and economic role of rural pubs in Britain today. Together, they examine why the village pub remains such an important part of community life, why so many are struggling, and how nostalgia, commercial reality and changing habits are reshaping the future of these local institutions. It's a thoughtful conversation about belonging, survival and what happens when the places that hold communities together begin to disappear. Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Podcast 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

It's the first full-squad catch-up of the year. We cover how January trade really played out, David Miller's fish and potato market update (including why cod prices look stable for now), and why "cheaper alternative species" marketing often backfires. We also get practical on price anchoring, portion strategy, and why Just Eat/Deliveroo can add incremental sales if you price it properly. Plus: how to win younger customers without bloating the menu—and a TikTok hiring test that delivered 75 applications in a day. Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Podcast 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

Mark Petrou & Danny Hennessy discuss how fish and chip shop valuations have changed dramatically — and why most owners don't realise it. In this episode, they break down how shops are valued today, why profit now matters more than turnover, how banks really view the industry, and what owners should be thinking about if an exit is on the horizon. Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Podcast 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

Stelios sits down with seasoned restaurateur James Fowler to explore the resilient world of UK hospitality. From his early days starting a fruit bar on Bournemouth's beach to running successful venues like The Larder House for over 15 years, James shares his passion for quality food, community-driven high streets, and the joys of wood-fired cooking. Dive into candid discussions on post-COVID consumer shifts, the impact of rising business rates and minimum wage increases, and the push for VAT reductions to foster growth in restaurants, pubs, and fish and chip shops. James also opens up about innovative responses to recent budgets, including a bold campaign highlighting the need for better government support to revive local economies and mental health through social dining. Packed with optimistic insights and practical advice for hospitality owners facing unpredictable trade, this conversation reminds us why thriving high streets are essential for UK communities. Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Podcast 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

Mark Petrou is joined by Warren and Sarah Paul of Paramount Creative for an open and wide-ranging conversation about the Scottish Fish and Chip Awards, visibility and what real recognition means for fish and chip shops. Warren and Sarah share their journey from hospitality publishing and design into creating some of the UK's best-known industry awards, including the Scottish Fish and Chip Awards. They explain why public voting matters, how credibility is built through transparency, and why regional recognition can be more powerful than chasing a single national title. The conversation also looks ahead to the upcoming English Fish and Chip Awards, set to take place in Manchester, and what this expansion means for fish and chip shops across England. The discussion covers the realities facing family-run fish and chip businesses today, from rising costs and competition to the importance of community support, local media and social proof. Along the way, Mark reflects on his own experiences attending the awards and what makes these events land differently with operators and guests alike. Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Podcast 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

Stelios is joined by Allen Simpson, CEO of UKHospitality, and Kate Nicholls, Chair of UKHospitality, for an open and detailed discussion on the pressures facing hospitality businesses across the UK. The conversation explores business rates, rising rateable values, wage policy, VAT, employment reform and why many pubs, restaurants, hotels and fish and chip shops feel increasingly constrained. Allen and Kate explain how recent budget decisions have played out in practice, why promised reforms have fallen short, and what these policies mean for jobs, investment and long-term viability. They also discuss wage compression, youth employment, apprenticeships and welfare-to-work schemes, alongside the importance of engaging directly with MPs rather than relying on social media to drive change. Episode highlight powered by Ceres Heavy Duty Degreaser Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Newsfeed Ceres Podcast 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

Stelios is joined by Giles Fuchs from Burgh Island Hotel for a grounded conversation about what it really takes to run a hospitality business when the pressure is real. Giles shares lessons from building, losing, and rebuilding businesses, including why even a single customer can become your strongest long-term asset if you get the experience right. The discussion explores staffing costs, government policy, and the unintended consequences that hospitality operators feel first, long before they appear in headlines. The episode also looks at trust, personal risk, and the mental load of being responsible for a business and the people in it. Giles explains how stoicism and preparation help him stay steady in uncertain conditions, offering a practical mindset rather than motivational slogans. Episode highlight powered by Ceres Traditional Batter Mix Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Newsfeed Ceres Podcast 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

In this Podsquad episode of The Ceres Podcast, Stelios Theocharous is joined by David Nicolaou and Mark Petrou for a frank conversation about the pressures fish and chip businesses are facing right now. The discussion starts with real-world stories from the coalface, including a frozen bank account without warning and the serious consequences of a missed Companies House filing. Those experiences lead into a wider debate about risk, compliance, and why relying on government fixes such as VAT cuts is not a strategy for survival. From there, the Podsquad tackles soaring cod prices, whether cod should still be the default choice on fish and chip shop menus, and how operators can adapt pricing and menus to protect margins without losing customers. It is an honest, practical discussion aimed squarely at owners and operators who want to focus on what they can control. If you run a fish and chip shop or hospitality business, this episode offers clear thinking, lived experience, and straight-talking insight from people who understand the realities of the trade. Episode highlight powered by Ceres Deep Fryer Cleaner Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Newsfeed Ceres Podcast 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

Stelios is joined by Andrew Markou, CEO and co-founder of BusinessesForSale.com . Together they break down what really drives the value of small hospitality businesses, with direct relevance to fish and chip shops. The conversation focuses on why cash flow matters more than turnover when valuing a business, what realistic multiples look like, and how owners can increase value by building systems that reduce reliance on them personally. They also explore succession trends, the do's and don'ts of improving a business after purchase, and why franchising is growing in the UK, plus what independent operators can learn from a franchise-style mindset. Practical, grounded and full of trade-ready insights for anyone buying, running, scaling or preparing to sell a hospitality business. Episode highlight powered by Ceres Calculators . Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Newsfeed Ceres Podcast 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

In Episode 234 of The Ceres Podcast News Review, hosts Stelios Theocharous and David Nicolaou break down the week's most important stories for fish and chip shops and hospitality operators. With their usual mix of clarity, experience and straight talking, they explore what the headlines really mean for independent businesses on the ground. This episode covers: A quick look at David and Craig's new venture, The Grumpy Fryers, and why fresh trade-led content matters The Scottish awards expanding into England, and how that could raise standards across the UK Thirteen months of decline in hospitality jobs, and what it signals for the industry ahead of the Budget The £50,000 extractor fan that turned into a £2.5 million planning disaster, and the compliance lesson behind it McDonald's under renewed scrutiny over workplace harassment, and the wider safeguarding message for every operator employing young staff Episode highlight powered by Ceres Labelling Solutions. Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Newsfeed Ceres Podcast Check out the Ceres Calculators now ! 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

Steven Muscat has spent his life behind the counter at one of Cardiff's best-known family chippies, Yan's Fish Bar. In this episode, he joins Mark Petrou for a warm, honest catch-up that starts with Steven's family roots and the story of how the business began, then moves into what it was like growing up in the shop and eventually taking over the reins. Together, they dig into the father-and-son dynamic that shaped Steven's career, and then zoom out to the big shifts facing the fish and chip trade today — changing customer expectations, portion sizes, fish choices, pricing pressure, and the day-to-day challenge of staying profitable without losing what makes a great chippy great. Steven also shares why he built the Owners and Lovers community on facebook, his views on awards and recognition in the industry, and what the future looks like for family-run shops in a post-Covid, delivery-heavy world. Episode highlight powered by Ceres Deep Fryer Cleaner , Ceres Heavy Duty Degreaser & Ceres Heavy Duty Descaler — made to keep your commercial kitchen and equipment in peak condition. Find out more at ceres.shop . Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Newsfeed Ceres Podcast Check out the Ceres Calculators now ! 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

Stelios sits down with Robert Furey, Managing Director of Florigo UK, to talk about how fish and chip shops can stay sharp and profitable in an uncertain economy. They explore the difference between cutting costs and cutting investment, why some operators often pause while others stick to long-term plans, and how replacing ageing ranges can save money through efficiency, reliability, and easier servicing. The conversation also covers pricing confidence and value perception, practical lessons on click-and-collect and delivery, and the essentials many shops overlook — from insurance details and servicing schedules to fire-suppression compliance. Finally, they look ahead to the next wave of range technology and unpack what the QBTEC move around Florigo could mean for the wider market. What you'll learn in this episode: • How to control costs without stalling growth • The true payback of upgrading old frying ranges • Pricing psychology and protecting perceived value • Click-and-collect first, delivery second — and why • Insurance, maintenance, and fire-suppression basics that matter • Where frying range tech is heading next • What the QBTEC/Florigo news likely means for operators Episode highlight powered by Ceres Deep Fryer Cleaner , Ceres Heavy Duty Degreaser & Ceres Heavy Duty Descaler — made to keep your commercial kitchen and equipment in peak condition. Find out more at ceres.shop . Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Newsfeed Ceres Podcast Check out the Ceres Calculators now ! 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith MP joins Stelios for a straight-talking conversation about the real challenges facing small businesses and the hospitality sector. From VAT reform and business rates to red tape, hiring struggles, and the pressure on high streets, this episode digs into how government decisions ripple into everyday life for fish and chip shops, pubs, cafés, and independent operators across the country. Andrew draws on decades in business, including senior roles at Sky and Just Eat, to offer a candid insider's view of Westminster. Stelios pushes the discussion into the issues owners actually care about: the VAT cliff edge, staffing costs, unfair competition, and whether the current system truly supports those keeping Britain's communities alive. A clear, grounded, and practical discussion for anyone who runs a business or depends on one. Episode highlight powered by Ceres Deep Fryer Cleaner, Ceres Heavy Duty Degreaser & Ceres Heavy Duty Descaler— made to keep your commercial kitchen and equipment in peak condition. Find out more at ceres.shop . Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Newsfeed Ceres Podcast Check out the Ceres Calculators now ! 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.

This week on The Ceres Podcast , Stelios sits down with Cos Michael , owner of Pisces in Heswall , for a powerful conversation about leadership, loyalty, and longevity in the fish and chip trade. From staffing challenges and delivery platforms to changing customer habits and the art of staying relevant — this episode goes deep on what it really takes to run a modern shop without losing your values. Cos's honesty and experience shine through. He's grounded, forward-thinking, and genuinely cares about his team, his customers, and the industry. This is one of those episodes that reminds you why good people make great businesses. 🎙️ Episode highlight powered by Ceres Natural Gold Batter Mix — made with British wheat, offering free mainland delivery and available via local wholesalers. Find out more at ceres .shop . Join the Ceres WhatsApp Group Download your FREE copy of the Fish & Tips E-Book and boost your business today. Ceres Facebook Page Ceres Newsfeed Ceres Podcast Check out the Ceres Calculators now ! 📮 Join the Ceres email list to keep updated and get monthly offers.