How To Start A Fish And Chips Business In South Africa
What is Fish and Chips?
Fish and chips is a popular hot dish consisting of fried fish in crispy batter, served with chips. The dish originated in England, where these two components had been introduced from separate immigrant cultures; it is not known who created the culinary fusion that became the emblematic British meal.
Overview
The fish and chips business seems to have lost some popularity in the recent years. This is mainly due to the popularity of fast-food chains. Fast-food franchises have become more and more accessible to the average person in South Africa.
However, this doesn’t mean that fish and chips businesses no longer have a place. There is still a lot of demand for fish and chips, especially in urban areas. This is a business with high barriers to entry but can become very profitable.
How To Start A Fish And Chips Business In South Africa
Choose a location
The location of your fish and chip shop will affect the success of your business more than anything else. This is basically a restaurant and location is super important for restaurants, it can make or break your business.
Your business should ideally be situated in an area that receives a lot of foot traffic. This should ideally be a busy street, it can either be in a town or kasi, it doesn’t really matter. As long as the street is busy; you should get customers from time to time. The worst thing you can do is to situate your business in an area that doesn’t get foot traffic.
With the right location, you won’t even have to spend much on marketing, people will notice your business and will come. Make sure that your fish and chip shop is in a good location and that there is not too much competition.
Get operating premises
You can either build or rent your operating premises, renting is usually the cheaper option. As long as it doesn’t cut too much into your profits. Renting usually costs anywhere between R7 000 and R13 000 in towns.
If you want to run the fish and chip shop at a township then you might have to build it from scratch as there might not be a suitable structure for you to rent. This is what might cause your overhead costs to skyrocket.
The size of your premises will be dictated by your business model. You have to decide on whether you are only going to sell take-aways or if you are going to allow people to sit down and eat.
Renovate your premises
You might be renting a building that used to be a furniture shop, you will have to turn it around to fit the theme of a fish and chip shop. The good thing is that not much has to be done, especially if you are planning to make it a take-away shop.
However, you will have to buy chairs and tables if you plan to have people sit down and eat. We highly recommend that you go with that model. Some people won’t come to your place if there isn’t a space for them to sit down and enjoy their meals.
Buy equipment
You don’t need a lot of equipment for this business, you should have equipment for frying your fish and chips. This can be any deep fryer; commercial fryers usually go for R6 500. Which is ideal if you expect to serve a lot of clients.
You should also buy some uniform for your employees or yourself. Food is a very sensitive thing; your employees should look professional at all times.
Register your business
You have to first register your business as a private company with the CIPC, then apply for a food license from the department of health. They will come to your premises and inspect everything, make sure that everything is up to standard.
Find suppliers
Try to find suppliers who are not that far from your business, you will need someone who will supply you with potatoes and fish. Source your potatoes directly from the farm, that’s if there is any farm near you. You will save a lot of money.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs.)
How much does it cost to open a fish and chip shop in South Africa?
Lowest Set Up Cost of approximately R 699 000 • It appeals to largest South African consumer group. Part of “Taste Holdings”. Full member of FASA. Simple operations.
How profitable is fish and chips?
An HMRC estimate of the fish and chip industry states that you might expect gross profits of around 50% – where some achieve more, others less. This comes down to economic preparation, effective portion control and reasonable pricing.
How much does KFC Make a month in South Africa?
How much does a General Worker make at KFC in South Africa? Average KFC General Worker monthly pay in South Africa is approximately R 5 112, which is 20% below the national average.
How much does a fish and chips franchise make in South Africa?
In 2017, the sector consisted of 845 franchisors and over 40,000 franchisees. It employed about 343,000 people and generated sales of R587 billion.
What equipment do you need for fish and chips?
- Bain Maries.
- Chest Freezers.
- Chip Shop Utensils.
- Chip Scuttles.
- Signage.
- Fish Fridges.
- Fish Knives and Utensils.
- Fryers.
What makes a good chippy?
The best batter is “crispy, even-coloured, covering the whole fish, not too greasy and free of any carbon particles”. Mystery diners for the preliminary rounds also rated many other aspects of the chippies, ranging from the quality of the customer service to courtesy over the phone
Do fish and chip shops pay VAT?
If a member of the public buys fish and chips from their local corner shop they pay the VAT, but if they get the same combination from a hot food counter in a supermarket the purchase is VAT free.
How long is frozen fish good for?
When frozen in an at-home refrigerator, a fatty fish like tuna or salmon will last two to three months. A leaner fish like cod will last up to six months. When vacuum-sealed and properly stored in the freezer, fish can last for as long as