It is National Fish and Chip Day, and Grimsby Fish Market is proud to play a vital role in helping people enjoy the finest of feasts.
Haddock and cod are the primary species that are sold through the town’s iconic wholesale operation, with the many merchants buying on the traditional shout auction supplying fish and chip shops, restaurants and retailers – who in turn make sure the customer can indulge in the enduring British favourite.
And the sheer number of people involved in getting that piece of fish on the plate never ceases to amaze the market’s long-serving auctioneer, Nelson Hunter.
“Fish is one of the last wild-caught species in the world, and it is easy to lose track of this when you pick up a crisp white fillet in its perfect packaging as part of your weekly shop,” Nelson said.
“From those working the trawler in often adverse conditions, to those landing the fish in port, transporting it, selling it, buying it, filleting it and finally moving it on to the person who will dunk it in the fryer, there are so many livelihoods involved. It is a supply chain I’m proud to be part of, as are my colleagues at Grimsby Fish Market.”
Almost 5,000 jobs are directly linked to the seafood sector in Grimsby, and while most of the dishes served up this evening will be Icelandic-caught, much comes via Grimsby, with a legacy of the catching industry here the significant proliferation of fish processing and cold storage operations, providing a gateway to the UK consumer.
There are then the exquisite smokers and independent retailers, as well as the mobile merchant fleet that serve their regular regions on a weekly basis – with much of their stock bought from Grimsby Fish Market.
For Nelson and the team, any promotion to help increase consumption is welcome, with Friday still a peak that guides purchases and processing. He estimates he has auctioned off more than three million boxes of fish in the 30 years the ‘new’ market has been open.
“It is certainly a dish worth celebrating, and I hope it is enjoyed across the country this evening,” he added.
It is estimated that 440 million people saw, read or heard about National Fish & Chip Day in 2025, as it marked a decade of promotional delivery by the National Edible Oil Distributors’ Association. Thousands of fish and chip shops participated, using the day to engage customers, celebrate teams and, most importantly, champion the fish and chips at a local and national level.
Simon Dwyer, incoming chair of market operator Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises Ltd, also leads Grimsby Fish Merchants’ Association. He said: “We’re feeding the nation. We have 35 to 40 merchants, every morning, going on the market, relying on supplies from Iceland to buy, process and then distribute – either direct or through the fish vans. We are at the heart of it, providing the cod and haddock the fish and chip shops want.”
External coverage – Grimsby Live