KEBABS ON FAMOUS BRITISH STREETS - THE VOICE OF THE UK KEBAB INDUSTRY Issue No. 3 - Britshish
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T HE VOIC E O F TH E UK K EBA B I N D UST RY I ss u e No. 3
KEBABS ALL ABOARD
ON FAMOUS
A LONDON BUS,
DESTINATION:
DONER!
BRITISH BRITAIN'S FIRST
STREETS DONER KEBAB SHOP
BritShish investigates kebabs IS CHLORINATED
on Manchester's Curry Mile CHICKEN REALLY SAFE?
WELC OME
IN THIS ISSUE
Is online delivery
05 Food businesses
future put at risk by
Migration proposal
good for takeaways?
T
he online delivery problem is the commission
08 The first doner kebab market is the delivery companies
shop in the UK growing in put in the contract can be
importance, up to 25% of the order -
but relations between then there’s the admin
restaurants, takeaways fee, service charge and
10 Eating doner on board
a London bus and the delivery
companies they work with
then after you put on
VAT, it comes out about
are becoming increasingly 30-35%. In a takeaway
strained. situation that’s a staggering
13 The kebab industry
revolution: German
Doner Kebab
Some delivery services charge
high commission fees of up to 30%,
amount. We also lost many of
our long time customers after we
while many takeaway owners also have started to work with delivery
feel they are losing money on online companies”
collection orders made by regular Today, Just Eat effectively
17 The competition
authority investigate
delivery market
customers through these providers.
One well-established takeaway
dominates the entire UK market,
listing more restaurants on its service
owner from Kent told BritShish: than both its young competitor
"At first I thought my business had Deliveroo and the recently arrived
increased. Then I realized that I had American contender Uber Eats
20 UK food poisoning
cases higher than
previous year
been serving people who had mostly
already been my customers for years.
We are paying the fine for not having
combined. Just Eat delivery to
29520 restaurants and takeaways as
Deliveroo has 16383 and Uber Eats
a good website, in a sense, by taking has 7578 partners.
the distributor company as a partner This growth is set to continue as
22 Chlorinated chicken to our existing long-time business." the company announced earlier in
and UK market Despite running a busy shop with June that restaurants with their own
orders constantly coming in online, delivery riders can join the Deliveroo
some of the owners claim they’ve platform, which they predict could add
been running at a loss due to the fees 5,000 new restaurants to the service.
24 Kebabs on the curry
mile of Manchester charged by Just Eat and Deliveroo.
Some owners have also claimed
Online order and delivery giants
are now an indispensable part of
takeaways are having to lay off the UK food market and integral to
members of staff as they struggle to the way many Britons eat every day.
31 Taste a kebab
from Balkans
make ends meet.
The costs of working through
However, these large services would
do well to take a more sympathetic,
delivery companies have forced supportive and accommodating
some food business owners to approach to many of the SMEs who
44 As the UK Brexits,
kebabs remain
remove their shops and restaurants
from the site entirely despite fears
use their platforms, if they don’t
everybody stands to lose out.
about how this could impact sales.
Speaking to BritShish another Best,
46 Mental Health
in the industry
shop owner said: “We are quite a
busy shop in North London, but the Timur Ekingen
www.britshish.com ~ BritShish Publishing
Editors: Timur Ekingen - timur@britshish.com, Edward Rowe, Michael Daventry ~ Design & Production Ekrem Yilmaz, Firat Hayta
Contributors Elif Sule Keles, Ceren Gunel, Leyla Alp, Ozlem Aytekin, Erman Koparan ~ Advertising & Sales Zeynep Fesli, zeynep@britshish.com
Published By BritShish Limited ~ 7a Grovelands Road, N13 4RJ ~ Tel 020 8886 2999 ~ Email info@britshish.com
BRITSHISH 3
SLICES
FOR UNBELIEVABLE
MELT AMAZING
TASTE
Brought to you by
www.kerrymaid.com
@KerrymaidDairy
INFO
FEAT URE
Home Office
Secretary Priti Patel’s
plans to introduce a
post-Brexit Australian-
style points system
after free movement
between the UK and
EU officially ends after
31st December 2020.
Food industry condemns
new immigration regulations
T
he food and drink sector is The Home Office also claims workers essential to the production
up in arms over scheduled that the new immigration regime of huge array of basic foodstuffs
government reforms to “will give top priority to those with such as cheese, pasta, and sausages.
Britain’s immigration the highest skills and the greatest While we are committed to
system. Industry bodies and talents, including scientists, promoting the use of automation
business owners have condemned engineers and academics.” and technology in our sector, the
Home Offfice Secretary Priti Patel’s In a response to the government’s benefits of such innovations will
plans to introduce a post-Brexit plans, the Policy Manager not be felt overnight and some food
Australian-style points system of industry representative chain roles remain challenging to
after free movement between the organisation the Food and Drink automate. With the employment
UK and EU officially ends after 31st Federation (FDF) Mark Harrison rates and high vacancy levels,
December 2020. drew attention to key issues caused we believe a route for entry-level
In a statement published on 18 by the legislation that could affect workers should be introduced which
February, the Home Office said businesses throughout the sector. retains control of immigration
the new system “will assign points “The food and drink industry is while also supporting business
for specific skills, qualifications, reliant on workers at all skill levels” needs, incentivising upskilling,
salaries or professions and visas will he said, “We have concerns about and boosting productivity.”
only be awarded to those who gain access to those potential employees Prior to this statement, the FDF’s
enough points … and will end the who won't qualify through these CEO Ian Wright denounced Priti
reliance on cheap, low-skilled labour 'skilled' routes such as bakery Patel’s plans as “ludicrous” and
coming into the country.” assistants, meat processors, and a “terrible, terrible mistake”.
BRITSHISH 5
6 BRITSHISH
FEAT URE
the system comes into effect). This
is disastrous, as a large proportion
of the hospitality industry in the UK
is currently staffed and run by highly
skilled employees with a non-UK
background. The current staffing
crisis (not enough applicants and a lot
of job vacancies) will worsen. Under
the new system, 19 out of 34 of our
current staff would not have qualified
to work in the UK; if the new system
does come into effect, we foresee
significant problems in filling our
vacancies and running our business.”
According to Ms Kiazim if
Restaurant owners have also be able to experience the kind of restaurant and other hospitality
spoken out over the controversial service they offer, and would ask business owners want to support
reforms. The co-owners of popular her to remove the ‘low-skilled’ label hercampaign, “Signing the petition
Shoreditch-based fine-dining they would be given in the new visa is a great start, and sharing the
Turkish restaurant Oklava, Selin system and make it possible for them petition amongst followers on
Kiazim and Laura Christie have and other (future) staff members Instagram and customers and staff
started a campaign to amend the to migrate to the UK for hospitality would really help. We are thinking
proposed system. work. about the next step, and will keep
“We started our campaign about one The industry’s diversity is its everyone up to date on the latest
week ago” Ms Kiazim told BritShish lifeblood; under the new visa system, developments.”
on 29 February. “I say ‘campaign’, we stand to lose the hospitality The government has said that the
but we actually just posted a picture industry as we know it” she said. new system will deliver on the result
and short caption on Instagram When asked what she thought the of the 2016 Brexit Referendum
in response to the government’s worst consequences for the food and “end free movement, reassert
proposed points-based visa and drink sector, including the control of our borders and restore
system and we were overwhelmed Kebab Industry, could be if the new public trust.”
by the support in the hospitality immigration regime comes into Readers can find the petition on the
community. Because of this wave of effectshe also told BritShish that BritShish website on the below link:
support, we decided to take it further “for UK restaurants at largethe new https://britshish.com/restaurant-
and start a petition to ask Priti Patel visa system will mean there will be no owners-campaign-to-revoke-priti-
and her government to revoke 1) the new migrants who will qualify to work patels-categorisation-of-unskilled-
categorisation of hospitality work as inthe UK hospitality industry (once hospitality-workers/
‘low-skilled’ and 2) the points-based
system which would see a steep
decline in migration of hospitality
workers from around the globe to
the UK (as they would not qualify for
entry under the government’s new
system).”
The chef and businesswoman also
explained that Oklava is trying to
change the Home Office’s perception
of hospitality workers as ‘low’ or
‘unskilled.’ “We have written a letter
to Ms Patel in the Evening Standard,
asking her to come have dinner at
our restaurant, Oklava. We would
love for her to come visit, and see
for herself the kind of skills our
supposed ‘low-skilled’ staff have up
our sleeves. We value our staff, their
diversity, and their commitment
to their jobs; we would like her to
BRITSHISH 7
HODJA NASREDDİN
“The UK's first ever
doner kebab shop”
W
ith the doner kebab,
which has become
the symbol of the
immigration of Turks in
Europe, especially in Germany, in fact
the British are more likely to have met
before. Because thousands of Turks
and Greeks who migrated from the
island of Cyprus, which was once the
colony of Britain, to England, did not
delay in carrying culinary cultures,
including kebab, to this country. Many
Turkish Cypriots moved to London
after the tensions in postcolonial
Cyprus. Cyprus was a British colony
between 1878 and 1960, however
when this influence ended with the
withdrawal of troops between 1960-
61, well-paid jobs tied to the army also
disappeared. The implementation
of the Commonwealth Immigration
Act of 1962 saw a great many former
British subjects take up the economic
opportunities presented in the UK.
It was not only Turkish Cypriots who including Barbara Stresiand, who
made the move, Greek Cypriots also continues his music life in London, is
started to occupy the more northern the founder of the first doner kebab
parts of Green Lanes, which stretches business known in Britain.
from central to north London. Hodja Nasreddin was the first
After a while, food businesses with doner kebab enterprise on record in
kebabs began to appear in London the UK having opened on Newington
and other British cities. Some of the Green in 1966. Owners Cetin Bukey
Cypriots working in the production and wife Konjay Huseyin believed
areas of the big part, such as textiles, doner would be as popular in the
started to open restaurants where UK as it was in Turkey, Cyprus and
they offer their traditional flavors and Germany. They were right. Hodja
meeting point for the society. Nasreddin was to become something
However, the story of doner kebab, of a bohemian food outlet for
which different from shish and those looking for a different eating
consisting of spiced lamb cooked on a experience. Turkish presence wasn’t
spit and served in slices, typically with as visible as it was in Germany at
pitta bread, has a more sophisticated the time and the spinning meat was
feature. A saxophone and clarinet slower to take hold, which added to
artist named Çetin Bükey, who the restaurant’s allure as
accompanies his famous names, an alternative spot.
8 BRITSHISH
HISTORY
Hodja Nasreddin was
the first doner kebab
enterprise on record
in the UK
Hodja Nasreddin was the first course, there has been something
ever kebab shop to hit the UK high of a renaissance in Ottoman
street when it opened in 1966. style traditional kebab shops on
Owner, Cetin Bukey was, at the time, UK streets. Then, however, the
playing clarinet and saxophone on restaurant was a rare piece of the east
the London circuit when the idea in the heart of north London.
came to him. He and his wife Konjay According to Konjay, coal was
looked across at Turkey and noted used as cooking fuel out of necessity
the popularity of Ottoman style doner because there wasn’t any electricity
kebab shops, a restaurant and food available. There was never a shortage
that was missing in London. They of work to be done and it was a tough
were certain that London would fall slog to make the restaurant a success.
in love with the dish. Konjay Huseyin, was constant
Konjay’s parents had made it over support throughout, especially as
to London in the 1950s - before the Cetin continued playing London’s
first wave of Turks started coming music scene. His musical artistry was
over from Cyprus - and provided never exhibited at the shop but he did
to young couple the support and get innovative in introducing another
advice that they needed. With their element to his menu: pitta bread.
help, Bukey found and purchased Pitta bread, now common feature of
a small shop in between a fish and kebabs, is unique to the UK compared
chip shop and pub. After some to normal fresh baked bread that
refurbishment they opened Hodja Turkey’s kebab shops serve. It’s hard
Nasrettin. Although pubs and fish to find a contemporary UK kebab
and chips were later to become shop which will not serve their doner
common associations with the doner meat and salad in pitta bread. This is
kebab, Hodja Nasrettin was anything owing to Bukey’s introduction of the
but just a fast food joint. In fact, the pitta onto their menu.
concept that Bukeys reproduced, Cetin Bukey recalls that it took a
which included shisha, was to attract while for the local community to get
a bohemian crowd rumoured to used to doner meat but soon he was
have included Tom Jones and doing good business with queues
George Harrison. stretching along the pavement.
Hodja Nasrettin’s menu also Hodja Nasrettin was, however, closed
included lahmacun and baklava - to make way for Bukey’s second
traditional Turkish dishes which were restaurant, Kasimpasa, on Upper
rare at the time in London. Now, of Street in 1977.
BRITSHISH 9
10 BRITSHISH
INNOVATION
London
bus kebab
restaurant is
social media
sensation
A
newly opened Turkish the experience of eating a kebab on
kebab business operating a bus without any complaints from
from a classic London bus other passengers.
has become a social The restaurant has received an
media sensation. outpouring of love on social media
The owner, Edmonton-based platforms such as Twitter and
entrepreneur Firat Amara first Instagram!
decided on the concept at the end One person tweeted, “So Turks
of last year. He bought the bus in have turned this bus into a kebab
late December, and has recently shop looooool I've seen it all now
started serving up kebabs to hungry #LastStopKebab”.
customers from his bright red Another expressed appreciation
double decker. for the restaurant’s location being
The restaurant, named “Last Stop so close to the local hospital, saying,
Kebab” sits just off Bridport Street “I don’t think anyone understands
on Commercial road opposite North how good of an investment this is.
Middlesex University Hospital in It’s directly across North Middlesex
Enfield, North London and seats Hospital and if you know the
about 40 people. hospital, you know there’s nowhere
Mr Amara thought that his decision to eat near it #LastStopKebab”
to turn a bus into a kebab takeaway One more excited twitter user said,
would distinguish his business from “Pizza Fridays are over … we have a
competitors and attract attention on new place now”.
social media. “I thought, everything is A popular British Turkish social
running on social media” he told the media comedy channel called
Metro newspaper, “If I get a double Turkishisms heralded the opening
decker bus then people will share it on of the shop, posting a video of the
Instagram, be interested to come and restaurant on Instagram with the
will use it as an advert.” caption “Wow abi [big brother] went
His efforts paid off, and the Last and turned a London bus into a
Stop Kebab has already won the Kebab shop”.
hearts of a large online fanbase with BritShish is looking forward to
around half a million likes in the seeing the exciting and innovative
short space of time since its opening. restaurant or takeaway concepts
Customers are descending on Enfield that the Kebab Industry will bring
from across the capital and enjoying to Britain’s culinary life next!
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How a Glasgow
doner shop started
the biggest chain in
the Kebab Industry GDK’s Global CEO Imran Sayeed
BRITSHISH 13INTERVIEW
The GDK effect: A kebab
industry revolution
G
lasgow is the cradle of a kebabs’ quality is clear from the long Germany. The German Doner Kebab
kebab concept that offers queue of eager and happy customers concept, which first started in Berlin
British kebab-lovers waiting in line to get their teeth in 1989 involves serving kebabs not
something different. The into one. only with healthy, quality beef or
store is located on the entrance floor We sat down with GDK’s Global chicken, but also with fresh salad and
of the city’s iconic former Odeon CEO, Imran Sayeed on the busy shop homemade bread.
Cinema building on Renfield Street. floor packed with customers to find GDK brings delicious kebabs in
Glaswegians from yellow out more about the UK’s fastest this style and is truly transforming
hi-vis-clad construction workers, growing fast-casual restaurant chain. the perception of the kebab with
businessmen in ties and jackets, When asked why he chose to invest UK consumers, priding themselves
office staff in blouses and high heels, in the British Kebab Industry, a on their attention to detail, making
to hoodie-wearing students, parents crowded market with around 20,000 sure that restaurants are always
and children, all come to the gourmet businesses already operating, squeaky clean and opened with a
kebab restaurant to experience the Sayeed says there is a wide space in contemporary design. The speedy
UK’s latest fast-casual phenomenon. the sector for their innovative and growth of GDK, which currently has
At German Doner Kebab (GDK) pioneering kebab concept that is 40 UK branches, draws attention
Glasgow, work begins at 11am sharp. resonating with Millennials and to the fact that since 2016, when it
The shop’s customers clamour for Gen Z consumers. entered the British market, it has
kebabs made with beef, chicken Despite the doner kebab’s undoubtedly become one of the
or both, cut from colossal spits of reputation in Britain as the country’s most successful food
roasting doner meat and served in unhealthy staple of the drunk chains, despite the great economic
flatbread wraps, lahmacun (Turkish person, Mr Sayeed explained that uncertainty of recent times. The
pizzas) or handmade bread. These there is a different perception in CEO added that they have already
14 BRITSHISHsigned 370 franchise agreements Athif Sarwar. Mr Sayeed said the between the ages of 18-25, and the
and are aiming to get these vision and diligence of Athif, whilst convenient “direct to your door”
businesses off the ground in the next building a senior team of players delivery option has helped improve
three years. He says that the growth from across the global food industry, GDK’s online presence as a modern,
and interest they have generated has been key in delivering the gourmet brand.
is carrying the kebab up towards brand’s ambitions in such a short During our interview with Mr
becoming one of the heavyweights period of time Sayeed, we were also joined by GDK’s
of the fast-casual space. Pointing out that the majority Operations Director Michael Biggins
Adding that his aim is to open of businesspeople applying for and UK and Europe Managing
800 GDK stores within the next 10 the franchise are entrepreneurs Director Daniel Bunce, who spoke
years, Imran qualifies his claim in the who are already operating in the about how GDK International is
following way: “The kebab is a meal food industry, the GDK CEO also now opening franchise stores in
that has no recognition problem. emphasises that he offers his chain the USA, Canada and the Middle
We offer an authentic and high- branch owners a profitable business East, including Saudi Arabia. They
quality product, from packaging to model. Imran explains that GDK also told us how the company’s UK
presentation with a modern concept provides their franchisees with management team is staffed by
with every detail in mind. 95 percent various kinds of assistance from experienced senior managers from
beef kebabs, bread, fries and pickles product selection to personnel leading global food and beverage
that we prepare especially for our training, and how to pay attention franchise brands.
doner kebabs... all our products are a to both customer satisfaction and The CEO is optimistic about
different concept for kebab lovers. profitability. the future of GDK. He says: “We
“Our customers, who have become For Mr Sayeed, the franchise seriously believe and trust this
regulars since the first tasting, come demand he has seen is the most brand, all of our UK stores are doing
from all background and income striking indicator of the opportunity unbelievably well. GDK is focused
groups. On weekends, our businesses that GDK can offer its stakeholders. on quality and is committed to
are filled with family customers too. He adds that GDK offers its transforming people’s perception of
Unlike general perceptions, we offer outlets advertising and marketing the kebab.
a healthy doner. We take the utmost support by providing them with The fast-casual market is very
care to ensure that this happens the potential to make big takeaway competitive with a number of brands
in a business with the highest sales by cooperating with Uber but GDK brings in a new shape to the
hygiene standards.” Eats and Deliveroo. One of the kebab market by offering a quality
GDK is owned by Hero Brands company’s main customer bases are fresh gourmet range which is also
which is led by Scottish entrepreneur social media-savvy young people a healthy kebab.”
BRITSHISH 1516 BRITSHISH
ONLINE TAKEAWAY
Amazon and Takeaway.com
under investigation by
competition regulator
T
he Competition and
Markets Authority (CMA)
is currently investigating
Takeaway.com’s acquisition
of the UK-listed food order and
delivery service Just Eat for £5.9
billion. Shares in the combined
company, Just Eat Takeaway, started
trading on 3 February. However,
the CMA’s initial enforcement
order prohibits the companies
from integrating or transferring
ownership while the CMA considers
the competition implications of the
deal. This means in practice that the
companies cannot transfer business
secrets or knowledge, make changes
or transfers of key staff and cannot
share information technology and
customer and supplier lists for as long
as the enforcement order is in place. The central issue in both the competition in two ways.
Takeaway.com and Just Eat are Amazon/Deliveroo and Just Eat/ Firstly, the CMA is concerned that
also obliged to report separately to Takeaway.com mergers is whether the deal could damage competition
the CMA every fortnight to confirm the deal would prevent a large new in online restaurant food delivery
compliance with the order. When entrant from entering the UK food by discouraging Amazon from
merging, companies can choose to delivery market. With operations in re-entering the market in the UK.
formally notify the CMA of a merger, 11 European countries, Takeaway. Currently, there are only a small
and in doing so avoid the risk of the com is one of Europe’s biggest number of companies that act as the
deal being investigated at a later players and the CMA has stated that middle-man between restaurants
stage, Takeaway.com chose not “Takeaway.com could have been and customers, and Amazon offered
to do this. well-placed to enter the UK market this service in competition with
The CMA will most likely factor the if the merger hadn’t happened, and Deliveroo until 2018, when it exited
growing trend of consolidation in the compete with Just Eat.” the market. Although Amazon
food delivery market into its decision If the CMA does approve the Just closed down its Amazon Restaurants
– Just Eat/Hungry House, Takeaway/ Eat/Takeaway.com merger, Just Eat business, the CMA believes evidence
Delivery Hero, Uber Eats/Zomato Takeaway will become one of the uncovered in Amazon’s internal
and Caviar/DoorDash to name a few. largest food delivery companies in the business documents shows a strong,
The UK market is already dominated world and the merger will be one of continued interest in this sector and
by three key players including UK’s largest tech deals in recent years. a material likelihood that Amazon
Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats. At The CMA is also investigating would look to re-enter. Given the
present, Amazon’s planned minority Amazon’s investment in Deliveroo limited number of existing suppliers,
stake in Deliveroo, Just Eat’s biggest around serious concerns raised by the CMA found that the potential
British rival, is under a Phase II the deal around competition for UK re-entry by a supplier such as
review over concerns it could harm customers. The initial investigation Amazon would significantly increase
competition in both the restaurant has revealed that the investment competition in online restaurant
delivery and online grocery sectors. in its current form could harm food delivery in the UK.
BRITSHISH 17ONLINE TAKEAWAY Secondly, the CMA is concerned that the deal could also damage competition in the emerging market for online convenience grocery delivery, where the 2 companies have already established market-leading positions. Again, there are only a small number of suppliers offering the “ultra-fast” delivery of groceries in the UK. Although several supermarkets and online food platforms are experimenting with convenience grocery delivery, Amazon and Deliveroo – both of whom have UK-wide delivery networks to support their operations – are 2 of the strongest players in this market at present. the UK competition probe which in 2018 to be worth almost £11 billion. While there are some differences threatens to bring down the retail Amazon’s UK business, in addition to in the services that Amazon and giant's multimillion-dollar investment its wider Amazon.co.uk marketplace, Deliveroo offer to customers, into the UK delivery start-up. includes a wide range of grocery the CMA found that competition According to reports, the two firms offerings through Amazon Prime, between them could increase in will argue that the CMA's ongoing Prime Now, Amazon Fresh, and future as the market develops. investigation is "speculative" and Whole Foods Market. Amazon and Deliveroo are lacks in evidence. Amazon reported The deadline for the CMA’s preparing to fight back against its UK net sales from its online store investigation is 11 June 2020. 18 BRITSHISH
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For more information please call or visit us
IKA EPoS Ltd. Unit B Watkins House, Pegamoid Road, London N18 2NG
Tel: 020 8887 1578 • E-mail: sales@ikaepos.comFSA research suggests new
higher estimates for the
role of food in UK illness
A
round 2.4 million cases to food in Britain. In addition, foodborne illness occur each year”
of foodborne illness occur according to the research, which the FSA said in a statement” the
every year in the UK, a investigated the main virus FSA said in a statement.
scientific review published transmission pathways, eating “This work gives us a much better
by the Food Standards Agency out accounts for around 37% of idea of the role of food in the spread
(FSA) has estimated. The new figure all foodborne norovirus cases, of all infectious intestinal disease
has more than doubled in the last takeaways appear to be responsible in the UK. However, this does not
decade, with illness estimates up for around 26%, while open-headed mean more people are getting
1.5 million, from approximately one lettuce, raspberries and oysters on unwell, only that we estimate food is
million in 2009. retail sale causean estimated 30%, responsible for more existing cases
The public health body is also 4%, and 3% respectively. than previously thought”adds the
publishing a new five-year study The agency has said that the new FSA’s, Chief Scientific Adviser,
investigating the extent to which research around norovirus figures Guy Poppy.
the norovirus is carried in food. The has helped them to reach the new “Although the percentages
research was led by a team of British total foodborne illness estimates of may appear striking, the risk
scientists and is being followed 2.4 million a year. to consumers remains very low
up by a further FSA paper to “The revised foodborne norovirus for most of these pathways. For
review and update the assessment estimate, combined with better example, on average, an individual
developed during the project. analysis of how many illnesses of would only end up with norovirus
The research has revealed that unknown cause are also likely to once in every 15,000 portions of
every year approximately 380,000 be caused by food, suggest around open-headed lettuce – that would
norovirus cases are connected 2.4 million estimated UK cases of take around 40 years.”
20 BRITSHISHFO OD SAFETY
Concern about food
safety in UK food outlets
T
he Food Standards Agency
(FSA) has published its
‘Public Attitudes Tracker
Survey Wave 2019’ results.
The FSA surveys consumers in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The top food safety issues of
concern for those surveyed were:
• Chemicals from the environment,
such as lead, in food (32%)
• Food hygiene when eating out (31%)
• The use of pesticides to grow FOOD ISSUES OF CONCERN
food (31%)
• Food poisoning (28%)
The top wider food issues The top food safety issues The top wider food issues
of concern were: of concern were: of concern were:
• Food waste (57%)
• The amount of sugar in food (53%) 1 Chemicals from the environment, 1 Food waste (57%)
such as lead, in food (32%)
• Animal welfare (50%)
• Food prices (44%) 2 Food hygiene when eating out (31%) 2 The amount of sugar in food (53%)
• The amount of salt in food (42%)
According to the survey awareness 3 The use of pesticides to grow food (31%) 3 Animal welfare (50%)
of different types of food poisoning
has gradually increased in the 4 Food poisoning (28%) 4 Food prices (44%)
last two years. While awareness of
salmonella (now 92%) and e-coli 5 The amount of salt in food (42%)
(86%) were already relatively high,
awareness of norovirus (60%) and
listeria (61%) have increased by FOOD POISONING
eight and 15 percentage points since
November 2017.
Also 45% of respondents reported Salmonella and E. Coli were the most 81% of respondents thought that they
concern about food safety in commonly known type of food poisoning were most likely to get food poisoning from
UK restaurants, pubs, cafes and (92% and 86% respectively), followed by raw chicken and turkey, followed by shellfish
Listeria (61%) and Norovirus (60%). (57%) and reheated takeaway (50%).
takeaways. 40% of respondents
reported concern about food safety
in UK shops and supermarkets.
Reported concern has continued to ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE FOOD SYSTEM
decrease slightly over time, indicating
a general decline in concern about
food safety in UK food outlets.
were either always confident or agreed that the authorities are
The majority reported that they 80% confident most of the time that food is 62% effectively preventing and detecting
trust that food is what it says it is what it says it is and accurately labelled food fraud
and is accurately labelled (78%)
and 76% trusted the authenticity of said that they thought that the food agreed that the people who produce
ingredients/origin/quality of food. 65% 61% and supply food make sure it is safe,
system was regulated fairly
honest and ethically approved.
Findings also demonstrated that
83% of respondents felt they had
reported that they have enough
enough information about what food 83% information about what food contains
contains to make their food choices. to make their food choices
BRITSHISH 21INDUSTRY NEWS
Chlorinated chicken is
food safety “short-cut”
says Poultry Council
T
he British Poultry Council
has said washing chicken
with chlorine is a “short-
cut” when it comes to
food safety.
The national trade body that
represents the UK poultry meat
industry, told BritShish that “British
poultry producers don’t dip their
chicken carcasses in chlorine as we
do not believe in ‘cleaning up at the
end’ or taking any short-cuts when it
comes to producing safe food. Using
chemicals to disinfect food at the
end of a production process can hide
a multitude of sins, but what it can't
hide is the need for their use in the
first place.”
The comments come against the “That is why we are calling for chlorine-washing gives American
backdrop of a potential post-Brexit a Government-wide commitment producers an excuse for having
trade deal between the United that production standards of poor hygiene and animal welfare
Kingdom and United States, which imported food will have to meet practices on farms and at other
if successfully concluded, could British standards as a condition of parts of the supply chain. Poultry
see chlorinated chicken enter entry. We look forward to engaging cleaned in this way is currently
British markets. constructively with Government over illegal in the EU.
The Poultry Council also told the coming months to ensure that In turn the US has said this ban
BritShish that Britain should not we don’t come compromise on our lacks scientific evidence and has
lower its own food and animal welfare high standards of production and accused the EU of pursuing a
standards to gain foreign trade accept trade products that do not policy of protectionism in favour
beyond the European Union. “British meet our current standards of food of European poultry producers.
farmers have worked incredibly hard production” the organisation added. The UK Government has insisted
to build a food system that enhances However, a report from the free that chlorine-washed chicken and
British food values and ensures market think tank the Adam Smith beef that has been treated with
high standards of production from Institute has claimed that the hormones would be kept out of
farm to fork” the representative American meat producers’ practice British markets even if Britain
body said, “As a nation we demand of immersing poultry in chlorine reaches a deal with the US. The
safe, wholesome, and nutritious dioxide solution drastically reduces Secretary for Environment, Food
food; world-class animal welfare; the prevalence of salmonella from and Rural Affairs Theresa Villiers
production that respects the 14% to 2% in controls, compared with told BBC Countryfile in January
environment; food that is affordable 15-20% among EU chicken samples. that “There are legal barriers to
and available; and a sustainable and The use of the solution has been a the imports and those are going to
secure supply chain. It is vital that major point of contention between stay in place.” Prior to this the Defra
we don’t lower our food standards, the EU and US in trade negotiations. Secretary had considered slapping
of which animal welfare is an integral The EU has expressed concerns that tariffs on any future American
part, in pursuit of new trade deals. the use of cleaning methods like chicken and beef imports.
22 BRITSHISHWith the right accountancy firm
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SOME INTERESTING
CURRY MILE FACTS
01 02 03
The Curry Mile has been There are more than 80 According to Rabnawaz Akbar,
Manchester’s South Asian dining restaurants, takeaways, sweet the Councillor for Rusholme,
destination since the 1960s. shops and shisha places along over 200 languages spoken
Sanam, which opened in 1963, is the not-quite-a-mile strip of in the area, mainly Bengali,
the oldest surviving restaurant Wilmslow Road that runs Persian, Arabic, Kurdish
from that period. through Rusholme. and Urdu.
04 05 06
The Curry Mile is the title of a The BBC has suggested Almost all the kebab shops
novel written by Zahid Hussain renaming the street the 'Kebab offer a huge variety of fresh,
in 2006. The book is set on Mile' because 70% of its homemade foods at any
Wilmslow Road and charts the restaurants now serve Middle time of day at extremely
life of a Pakistani family in the Eastern cuisine including low prices, sometimes as
restaurant trade. shawarma and other kebabs. cheap as £2.50.
T
he “Curry Mile” is one
of Manchester’s best-
known landmarks. So-
called because of the
historic dominance of South Asian
restaurants, takeaways and curry
houses found on the mile-long strip
along Wilmslow Road in central
Rusholme, the Curry Mile is home to
at least 70 eateries.
This iconic feature of Britain’s
third most populous city is
frequented regularly by a variety of
locals, especially students because
of its location near the Oxford Road
and Fallowfield Campuses of the
University of Manchester, Xaverian
College and the Oxford Road or All
Saints campus of the Manchester
Metropolitan University.
The origins of the mile can be
traced back to the heyday of the
British textile industry. The mile
began with the social habits of
the thousands of workers who
came to the UK from South Asia—
present-day India, Pakistan and
Bangladesh— to meet the demand
for labour in the 1950s. Many of
these workers regularly spent their
BRITSHISH 25LO CAL
FEAT URE
LIFE
BRITSHISH INVESTIGATES
spare time frequenting cafes on
Wilmslow Road before founding
restaurants, takeaways and other
shops of their own on the street. A
generation on, by the 1980s the title
“Curry Mile” was in common usage
to describe the road, which from
then on was characterised by these
establishments. At its peak, there
were more than 50 curry houses on
the strip, predominantly serving a
variety of South Asian cuisine.
In recent years however, the Curry
Mile has seen some changes of its
own. Kebabs are fast becoming
the second meal of choice on this
stretch despite its bearing the name
of another popular dish. Around a
third of the takeaway businesses now
trading on the road serve kebabs
and many of these have origins in
the Middle East rather than India,
Pakistan or Bangladesh.
A significant number of the new Rebwar
traders and staff on the street come Today Fresh Shawarma
from Iraqi, Kurdish, Turkish or Despite appearing to be a small
Syrian backgrounds, while others business from the outside, the
are from Afghanistan. Many of these huge chicken shawarma and
businesses are changing the face of freshly baked bread has made
the street by serving shawarma, a Today Fresh Shawarma incredibly
variant of the iconic kebab dish made popular. Originally from Iraq and
from meat cooked on rotating spits. of Kurdish heritage, the chef
Shawarma is popular in many Arab- Rebwar has lived in UK for the last
majority countries and is known by 15 years. Today Fresh Shawarma
different names elsewhere such as are particularly proud of their own
“doner” in Turkey and “gyros” handmade shawarma spits, and
in Greece. the variety of customers these
Many kebab businesses that attract is a testament to the taste!
serve shawarma on the mile actually
prepare the meat spits in-house.
Almost none of the traders buy
26 BRITSHISHMEET THE CURRY MILE’S NEW
GENERATION OF KEBAB BUSINESSES
Nabi and Ahmad Chris Hasim
Afghan Cuisine Kitchen Rules Antalya Cafe
Afghan Cuisine is one of the Kitchen Rules is the only Greek Hasim is from originally from
oldest Afghan establishments place on the strip and the only Tokat, Turkey but has lived
on the street. While the business where shawarma is known in the UK for two and a half
restaurant has simple décor, by its Greek name “gyros.” The decades. He has worked at
it’s the quality food that brings business-owner Chris, has 25 years the Antalya kebab restaurant
in large numbers of customers of experience in the food industry and shisha house for the last
on a regular basis from and opened his latest project a year few years. The restaurant
that period. and a half ago. In addition to the was founded by a Turkish
gyros kebab, Kitchen Rules offers entrepreneur, but has since
eye-catching homemade Greek been sold on to a new owner
appetizers and desserts. from Afghanistan.
BRITSHISH 27BRITSHISH INVESTIGATES ready-made doner meat from manufacturers. The traditional Middle Eastern shawarma wraps on sale tend to be quite cheap because of the large local student population; some businesses even sell their kebabs at prices as low as £2.50. Many of the shops also bake their own flatbreads on site as well. Thousands of people flock from all over Manchester to the mile every weekend. Other than students, the majority of people visiting the strip tend to be from South Asian and Muslim backgrounds. Large numbers of Muslims regularly specialist menu offering traditional come from neighbouring cities to Sahin Turkish grilled kebab specials and the Curry Mile during the Islamic Sultanahmet mezes. The restaurant opened festivals of Eid al-Adha and Eid al- Unlike in London and other parts just three years ago but has Fitr to enjoy the mile’s many delights. of England, Sultanahmet is the expanded its premises after huge Alongside the new kebab only Turkish restaurant where demand from customers. Sahin, restaurants, the street’s many new dozens of kebab types are sold one of the business partners shisha cafes have also started to give in its locality. The two-storey who own Sultanahmet also runs ita more Middle Eastern feel. Popular establishment, a branch of the Café Istanbul, which is one of among the youth, these shisha cafes famous chain Sultanahmet Manchester's longest established are often open late, with some even Köftecisi (meatball restaurant) restaurants, having served authentic open 24 hours. in Istanbul’s historical peninsula, Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine Despite the decline in curry is the only business with a for nearly 40 years. house numbers in recent years, and the growth of newer often Middle Eastern businesses, the mile is still considered the go-to Alan Ahmad & Ali Abdul place for the best curry in Britain. Manchester Fresh One thing that cannot be denied Shawarma however is that kebab restaurants The young Iraqi Kurdish owners of and takeaways have also built up Manchester Fresh Shawarma Alan a strong presence of their own the and Ali first opened their business street. BritShish took to the streets in 2018. They say their style of to introduce readers to some of the making shawarma is completely Kebab Industry traders, staff and different from traditional doner businesses now serving customers kebabs in terms of its taste and along the strip. This all begs the recipe. Alan and Ali are also skilled question, “could the Curry Mile in flat breadmaking to give their become Manchester’s ‘Kebab Mile’ dishes a more authentic flavour. one day?” 28 BRITSHISH
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erel@gproduction.co.ukKEBAB WORLD
Ćevapi: The Kebab
of the Balkans
A
lthough the kebab is recipe for Bosnian-style ćevapi.
often associated with the “Ćevapi is really delicious,” says
Mediterranean, Middle Qaza who runs Balkan Taste, a
East and South Asia, there West London café, burger joint and
is a relatively unknown, centuries-old pizzeria that also serves traditional
kebab tradition with firm roots in Balkan dishes. “There are lots of
Europe too. options from all over the Balkans.
Ćevapi is a grilled meatball kebab In Albania we make it with lots of
dish found across the Balkans. The herbs, which we actually put inside
dish usually consists of several the meatballs while preparing them.
meatballs on a plate or in flatbread After that we grill them on charcoal
called somun or lepinje with sour to really release all the flavour,” he
cream, a clotted cream known as adds. The diner, which is located
kajmak, a pepper-based sauce called on College Road, just a short walk
ajvar, cottage cheese, red pepper from Harrow on the Hill station,
and salt. gives customers the chance to
Ćevapi is considered a national enjoy the mouth-watering Balkan
dish by several countries including kebab wrapped in flatbread in
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia the classic fashion.
and Romania and is also enjoyed as As Qaza explains, ingredients vary
a traditional meal in other Balkan from country to country. There can
countries including Albania, Kosovo, also be differences within countries
Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, as well. Owing to the country’s mixture of all three.
Slovenia and North Macedonia significant Muslim population, The origins of ćevapi can be traced
(where they call it “kebapi”). Bosnian-style ćevapi is usually made back to the Ottoman Empire which
The dish is growing in popularity from minced halal beef, veal, mutton first established a presence in the
in the UK too, and has even attracted or lamb, sometimes combining more Balkans in the 14th century. The
attention from international culinary than one of these. In largely Christian Ottomans ruled much of the region
household names such as Jamie Serbia on the other hand, the dish until several countries including
Oliver who has released his own is made with beef, pork, lamb or a Serbia, Romania and Albania gained
independence and Bosnia was
annexed by Austria-Hungary during
the 19th and 20th centuries.
The empire’s legacy however is
still visible in many Balkan countries
today, particularly when it comes
to cuisine. The Ottoman Turks’
culinary influence is shown in that
the word “ćevapi” itself is derived
from “kebap” the Turkish word
for kebab. The dish particularly
resembles köfte, a popular Turkish
meatball, enjoyed in kebabs
throughout Turkey to this day.
Other dishes common throughout
the Balkans such as dolma (stuffed
vegetables) and the popular dessert
pastry baklava also have roots in the
Ottoman period.
BRITSHISH 31FO OD
Endo Sweets releases
new frozen dessert range
T
he renowned European
food sector supplier Endo
Ekin has expanded its
product range to include
a selection of frozen desserts. The
experienced international company
which is well-known for producing a
variety of savoury, baked and meat
products including frozen chips,
kofte kebab meat, chicken burgers,
tortilla wraps and a selection of
sauces to name a few, has branched
out and is now offering a variety of
frozen cake types.
Endo introduced its new product
range boasting a diverse selection of
dessert products to customers during
a special launch event. The firm of the country’s best-known development team and support from
presented several cake and pastry and well-established dessert various food and drink sector experts.
types to guests at the launch, which makers. The goods are frozen All of Endo’s products are made
was attended by numerous wholesalers and then transported to different in a hygienic environment in
from London and other UK cities. countries including the UK. Endo's accordance with health and safety
The director at Endo is especially hundreds of dessert products requirements. Their first priority
keen to strengthen and enlarge the include chocolate cake and other is to maintain effectiveness and
company’s customer base within common dessert types such as continuously improve in line with
the Kebab Industry including tiramisu and cheesecake, as well BRC, HACCP, Halal Production
takeaways, restaurants, suppliers as Turkish speciality cakes made and Quality Management System
and wholesalers. Endo’s main goal with traditional ingredients such as standards which enable their
is to offer current and prospective pistachio, tahini and mastic. customers to enjoy their products
clients in the Restaurant and food Endo chose to create a mixed safely. The company also takes
Industry the opportunity to feature product range after investigating measures to ensure that any
alternative products that enrich their dessert and cake trends in the UK potential environmental impact is
businesses’ menus with sweet options with a with a strong research and considered during production.
that complement their main courses.
Offering delicious and fresh
desserts and cakes suitable for
all tastes, Endo Ekin also serves
wholesale businesses with its wide
distribution fleet consisting of
refrigerated vehicles. The company,
which has already delivered its
products to thousands of companies
across the country and in Europe,
first started to produce desserts
after recognising the intense
demands for suitable sweet options
from its customers. Endo’s sweet
products are manufactured at
Turkey’s largest facilities, one
BRITSHISH 33AC C OUNTING
Altan Kemal
Altan Kemal is a Chartered named Alton & Co. (Chartered
Accountant. He came to the UK Accountants & Statutory Auditors).
in 1973, graduating in Business
Management before qualifying and Altan is happy to answer any
starting a career in accountancy. questions from BritShish readers.
He subsequently founded his You can send him your questions
own London-based firm in 1983, via info@britshish.com.
I'm planning to carry out a wide- over the long-owned takeaway deceased's wishes or optimal from
ranging redecoration project on and the supermarket next to it, a tax planning point of view. It is
my restaurant. Can I deduct all my but he has a wife and children therefore always advisable to have a
construction and other expenses from his second marriage. I think will to make sure all your loved ones
from my VAT and tax revenues? it is more of a legal issue, but get what you want them to receive.
what would you advise in terms
If one is VAT registered then all of accounting? The Home Office caught two
the input tax paid on the decorations illegal employees working at my
can be recovered. However, relief for The option of making the business as grill chefs - they
income tax purposes depends on the businesses a gift is not available have work permits but are not
nature of the work being carried out. as the gift has to be made whilst allowed to work in takeaways.
If the work is being carried out to the deceased was still alive. The Now lawyers state that I can be
maintain the earning capacity of the Inheritance Tax bill depends on fined up to £40,000. Can I pay
restaurant then it may be possible the underlying circumstances and this penalty with the income of
to set off all the expenses against the size of his estate. However if my workplace and show it as an
income. However, if the work is held the deceased was running these expense? Also, could the Home
to be improvements and therefore businesses then they should qualify Office close down my business?
enhances the earning capacity of for 100% business relief. The
the restaurant then the expenses danger of dying intestate (that is An employer has a responsibility
will have to be capitalised. In these without having made a will) is that to check that all their employees
cases, relief will only be available on the distribution of assets will be have a right to work in the UK. If they
disposal of the business. Relief in the made in accordance to the statutory fail to do so then they will be subject
form of Capital Allowances may be rules of intestacy. Only married or to a fine by the Home Office. The fine
possible in such circumstances. civil partners and some other close will be levied on the employer. One
relative can inherit under the rules is unfortunately not permitted to
My father passed away some of intestacy. This can sometimes claim this payment as a tax allowable
time ago from a heart attack. result in distributions which may expense. The Home Office however,
He did not leave a will. I took not be in accordance with the cannot close down your business.
34 BRITSHISHPA
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ARCHITEC CALL US ON:
0208 886 2999 / 0747 4472 880LEGAL
Hundreds of takeaways
caught employing illegal
immigrants
M
ore immigration raids
were carried out in the
restaurant and takeaway
trade last year any other
business sector in the UK.
A large number of illegal workers
were caught in dozens of operations
organized in towns and cities, such
as Hastings, Grantham, Melton, and
proceedings were launched against
them. According to the latest updated
data of the Home Office, 1,849
penalties issued in Britain in 2019
and a total of £34.4 million fines were
imposed on businesses. This number
was 1,208 in 2018 and 2,337 in 2017.
Mostly Chinese, Turkish and Asian
worker are sent back to their country
Hundreds of takeaways and restaurants have been fined a whopping.
after being kept in camps for a while. £34.4 million for employing illegal immigrants over the last year.
Under Home Office immigration rules
businesses can be fined up to £20,000
for employing a member of staff who suspect individuals are working Home Office has a fast payment
is found to be in the UK without legal without permission or legal status option which reduces the amount of
status and for failing to check their to remain in the UK. ICE teams are civil penalty by 30 per cent if they
immigration status. part of Immigration Enforcement receive payment in full within 21
There are no firm estimates of how Directorate (IE). They have powers days of the date of the civil penalty
many people are illegally working in to interview, arrest and detain notice. The reduced penalty amount
the UK or Northern Ireland. In 2015 immigration offenders found and the final date by which you
the UK government estimated there working illegally. The inspection must pay it will be clearly shown on
were between 190,000 and 240,000 looked at whether these powers civil penalty notice. Home Office
businesses employing illegal workers were being exercised in accordance may agree that make penalty by
in the UK – figures the Home Office with the law and with Home Office instalments over an agreed period
described as “speculative”. But guidance. It also looked at the of time, usually up to 24 months,
according to the Pew Research effectiveness of the IE team levying and exceptionally up to 36 months.
Centre, The Washington-based think civil penalties against employers If the businees doesn’t pay penalty
tank, there may have been between who had failed to comply with all in full or by instalments, or object
800,000 and 1.2 million unauthorised regulations. The primary focus for or appeal, by the specified due
migrants living in the UK in 2017. ICE teams was enforcement visits to dates, Home Office will commence
businesses, mostly restaurants and enforcement action against the
Directors can be disqualified takeaways, to locate and arrest illegal business. This includes action in
for employing illegal worker workers with a view to their enforced the civil court to recover the unpaid
removal from the UK. Individuals penalty. This action may have an
To tackle the issue, immigration found to be working illegally during adverse impact on business ability
compliance and enforcement (ICE) an immigration raid may be removed to act in the capacity of a director
teams visit businesses where they from the jurisdiction. in a company.
36 BRITSHISHYou can also read
