The three finalists - Harbourside Fish & Chips in Plymouth, Devon; Penaluna's Famous Fish & Chips in Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Poppies Fish & Chips in Spitalfields, London - will now compete against each other in the race to ‘catch’ this top accolade.

To secure a place as a coveted finalist, shortlisted shops have been assessed across a variety of judging criteria including menu development and innovation towards promoting healthier options, promotion of customer health awareness, staff training on healthier product contents and ingredients, marketing techniques for the promotion of healthy meal options and the monitoring and measurement of customer feedback on healthier menu options.

Over the coming weeks the finalists will be subjected to further in-depth judging visits from an auditor who will assess both front and back of house operational aspects of the shortlisted businesses. This final stage of competition judging will determine the winner that will be announced at the awards ceremony to be held in London in January 2016.

Sponsored by LoSalt, the UK’s leading reduced sodium salt, the Healthy Eating ‘Fish and Chips’ Award acknowledges UK fish and chip businesses that excel in educating and informing their customers about healthy eating choices and the nutritional values of fish and chips.

Award sponsor Caroline Klinge, Technical Sales and Marketing Manager of LoSalt, commented: “We know from working with over 450 fish and chip shops that consumers like to be offered healthier alternatives. 

“Making small changes such as offering LoSalt, grilled options, frying in healthier oils and serving healthy side dishes are just some of the initiatives fish and chip shops have adopted to deliver the same great taste while meeting customers’ interest in healthier choices.

“This award recognises those fish and chip shops that show extraordinary commitment and innovation to offer a healthier takeaway. Congratulations to this year’s finalists and good luck for the awards ceremony.”

Mel Groundsell, Corporate Relations Director of Seafish, said: “Research shows that fish and chips is a natural, nutritional meal and an excellent source of protein - far better than many other takeaway foods.

“The dish provides the body with carbohydrate, vitamins B6 and B12, vitamin C, iron, calcium, phosphorous, as well as the trace elements iodine, fluorine, zinc and some important dietary fibre.

“Prepared with only wild caught fish, freshly harvested potatoes, flour for batter, and oil for the cooking medium, fish and chips is still one of the least adulterated prepared foods that we can eat. However, it’s still important that all fish and chip operators seek to also diversify their menus to offer additional healthier options for customers.

“It is so important for us to recognise those businesses that do go the extra mile to not only offer healthier alternatives but also consistently strive to be ambassadors for our national dish, championing its nutritional contents.

“The three finalists excel in educating their customers about healthy choices and the nutritional values of fish and chips, while offering alternative options. I would like to offer up my congratulations to the finalists – all the best in the final!”

Culminating in an awards ceremony at The Lancaster London Hotel on 20 January 2016, The National Fish & Chip Awards are recognised as one of the most prominent and respected seafood industry events in the UK. Widely considered as the ‘Oscars’ of the fish frying industry, they celebrate the great British tradition of fish and chips, recognising the best talent, quality and choice offered by fish and chip businesses.

For further information on The National Fish & Chip Awards please visit www.fishandchipawards.com. Follow @FishnChipAwards on Twitter for all the awards news and information.