19/01/2026
I popped into a fish & chip shop recently that had decided to try a cheaper potato from another ‘merchant’ to save a bit of money.
On paper, the price looked great.
In reality, it caused far more work.
The potatoes needed extra prep, more cleaning, more sorting, and still produced a lot of waste. Staff were spending longer on prep, chips were inconsistent, and a good chunk ended up in the bin.
By the time you add up:
• Extra labour
• Increased waste
• Slower prep times
• Inconsistent quality
…it actually ended up costing more, not less.
This is something we see time and time again in the trade. The true cost of a potato isn’t just the price per bag — it’s what comes after it hits your prep room.
Cheap potatoes are rarely cheap in the long run.
Quality and consistency matter. 👌🥔