Scots are being urged to support their local fish and chip shop amid fears that one in three could be forced to close due to rapidly rising costs.
Campaigners from the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) have asked the UK Government to reconsider its plan to end the reduced rate of VAT on food and soft drinks in April, when the rate will go up from 12.5% to 20%.
Some chip shop owners have reported electricity bills rising from £400 to £2,000 a month.
Others said there had been a 75% in the cost of cod since October, an 81% hike in the price of haddock in the past year, a 120% rise in the cost of mushy peas and a 40% surge in the cost of batter.
Andrew Crook, president of the NFFF, told The Times that the price of fish is comparable to steak in supermarkets.
"Fish and chips shops feel the effect of these increases more than most cuisines as our margins are much tighter," he said.
“Most of the supplies we use in the fish and chip industry have increased drastically in price and we are expecting this to continue for some considerable time.
“Other products are simply not available, and we have seen suppliers move away from the sector."
About 167 million portions of fish and chips are served every year in the UK, according to the NFFF.
A UK Government spokesman said: "We’ve always been clear that the lower rate of VAT was a temporary measure to support businesses as they recover and thanks to the strength of our fantastic vaccine programme, which has enabled restrictions to be lifted and the economy to reopen, it’s right that our package of support reflects this.”