2010-01-25 14:06:47 - A traditional fish and chip shop chain based in the East Midlands has won a top national award for its standards in business and retail.

George’s Tradition won the Multiple Fish & Chip Retailer of the Year Award at the national Fish & Chip Shop of the Year competition 2009/10 organised by Seafish, the authority on seafood.

The long-established fish and chip chain beat two other leading multiples to the title - Ashvale Fish Restaurants in Aberdeen and Fish n' Chick n' of Bankers Fish Restaurants in Hertfordshire - to be presented with the award by celebrity chef Aldo Zilli at a high-profile ceremony at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel in London.

George’s Tradition runs several successful shops throughout Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, including seven takeaways and three restaurants. Competition judges were impressed by George’s Tradition’s commitment to staff training and customer service in addition to

the investment the group has made in sourcing sustainable and local produce for its outlets.

The inaugural award invited entries from multiple fish and chip retailers with six or more outlets, judging businesses at a head office level, taking into account the standard of sustainability, general business practices, commercial awareness, marketing, PR and personnel.

On winning the award, managing director of George’s Tradition, Andrew Constantinou, commented: “We are over the moon to win this award and to be recognised as the top multiple fish and chip retailer in the UK. All our people at George’s Tradition have worked hard to ensure our shops and restaurants deliver quality which is second to none. We have put a lot of effort into ensuring that we stand by our principles of sustainability, quality, innovation and the training of our team and this award pays testament to that. It is great to be acknowledged for our efforts and we appreciate the loyal support that our customers have given us over the years.”

Nikki Hawkins, project manager for the competition and judge of the Multiple Fish & Chip Retailer Award, said: “The UK’s fish and chip shop network is made up of many multiple retailers. George’s Tradition displayed a highly professional attitude to business expansion, the sourcing of sustainable products and the quality of their staff and service across all outlets, setting a good example for the multiple industry and standing out from its competitors.”

The Multiple Fish & Chip Retailer of the Year Award is sponsored by Unique Seafood Ltd, one of the UK’s leading companies in the distribution and wholesale of seafood since 1997.

www.georgestradition.co.uk