Middleton Foods announces Winner of The Peter Hill Award!
Middleton Foods is delighted to announce Oliver’s Chippy in Warton, Lancashire as the first-ever Winner of The Peter Hill Award. The traditional family-run chippy, owned by Gillian and Arron Jervis, goes above and beyond to serve its local community, and was deemed a truly deserved winner by the judges for this money-can’t-buy set of prizes – worth over £10,000!
The Peter Hill Award was launched by Middleton Foods in memory of its late CEO, Peter Hill, to reflect Peter’s passion for his beloved fish and chip industry. Speaking about the Winner, Ryan Baker, Sales Manager, Middleton Foods says:
“It’s with great pleasure we announce Oliver’s Chippy as the Winner of The Peter Hill Award! Peter loved the industry so much and was always keen to support and nurture new talent in the trade he adored. The Peter Hill Award recognises newcomers to the industry, encourages new talent, promotes quality and excellence and allows us to give
something back to the trade – Oliver’s Chippy and everything it stands for, really stood out to our judges. We know Peter would be delighted they’ve been chosen as the Winner. Huge congratulations to Oliver’s Chippy.”
Oliver’s Chippy was chosen by the judges for its huge community focus and passion, driven by Gillian and Arron’s autistic son, Oliver. The business is disability-aware and promotes inclusivity with its autism-friendly ethos and wheelchair accessibility. In the past year, Oliver’s Chippy has fed over 1,000 local children for free; has helped many food banks; offered a 10% Blue Light discount; and each week run a competition to giveaway two free meals. This is really quite something, especially in the midst of a cost of living crisis, and a spectacular way of supporting its community. As a nominee for the best fish and chips in Lancashire, judges feel this fantastic shop deserves national recognition, firmly putting Fylde on the map!
Commenting on their achievement Gillian Jervis, Owner, Oliver’s Chippy says:
“Wow, we’re over the moon to win The Peter Hill Award! We’re enormously proud to be in the fish and chip trade, and we’re delighted our community-focused shop helps put Warton on the map in Fylde. Our son, Oliver, inspires us every day, and we created Oliver’s Chippy so he has employment or if he cannot manage to work in the shop, financial security. We work very hard to operate a small business that cares, and thank everyone who supports us. It’s an honour to win this inaugural Award, which has very special meaning. Thank you Middleton Foods.”
As well as the kudos of being announced Winner of the inaugural Peter Hill Award, the
spectacular prize won by Oliver’s Chippy is worth over £10,000 and includes – £1,000 worth of
Middleton Foods stock; design of their own, ‘own label’ bespoke batter mix; two places at the
KFE School of Frying Excellence; two places on the NFFF Fish Frying course; 1-1 ForkedUp
training with Calum Richardson, for 3 months; two tickets to the Fish & Chip Shop of the Year
Awards 2024 (with hotel accommodation and travel expenses); a years’ support from Middleton Foods very own Batter Boys and additional support for National Fish and Chip Day 2024!
The inaugural Award was a hotly run contest, with a staggering number of entries. Five Runners-
Up – Angell’s Fisheries, Newark; Anstruther Fish Bar, Anstruther; Harrison’s Fish & Chip Co.,
Oxford; Jojo’s Van, Stafford; and Toll Bar Fish & Chips, Stoney Middleton – win £100 worth of
Middleton Foods stock.
Middleton Foods wanted to create something unique dedicated to Peter, who loved seeing new people come into the industry and placed huge importance on raising standards and seeing the trade represented well. The Peter Hill Award is a true legacy to Peter and a special way for Middleton Foods to keep his memory alive. Middleton Foods would like to thank the independent expert judging panel – Fred Capel, Nigel Hodgson and Calum Richardson – as well as KFE and NFFF too, for their support.
