By Deborah LeggateDecember 11th 2013

Frankie's Fish and Chip Café and Takeaway, the most northerly fish and chip shop in the UK, has maintained its place among the UK's top fish and chip shops by once again scooping the prestigious Fish and Chip Quality Award. It is the first and only shop in Shetland to receive this award.

Manager of Frankie's, John Gold comments, “I am delighted to have achieved a 100% pass rate for their Quality Award. This highlights the hard work and commitment which is involved by all staff and management in reaching this high standard”.

The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), the trade body that represents the nation's fish and chip shops, runs the scheme as a way of raising standards within the fish and chip trade and enhancing the profile of the industry.

Frankie's Fish & Chips opened in 2008 and is now a well-established and very popular eatery in Shetland, serving local and sustainable seafood. They have met with continued success by taking first place for Scotland in the National Fish and Chip Awards and being short-listed as one of the top 10 in the UK.

John is now looking forward to Frankie's representing Scotland at the National Fish & Chip Awards and being successful in triumphing as No 1 in the UK.

The scheme is a way of rewarding and promoting shops that provide good quality products and high standards of hygiene, as well as friers who show a high level of competence.

To qualify, each shop has to go through an inspection by an NFFF Approved Assessor who assesses the shop's presentation, hygiene and cleanliness, staff training, equipment, frying and sales skills and most importantly the quality of the cooked product.

This award sets the new benchmark for quality within the industry. It will signal to the consumer that they can buy with confidence where the award is displayed, and it will encourage more outlets to raise their standards. Frankie's has proven that it consistently serves some the UK's finest fish and chips.

Each Fish and Chip Quality Award is valid for two years and retention is dependent on standards being maintained as validated by NFFF officials and appointed assessors.