In 2020, it was estimated there were 4.8 million family businesses in the UK, employing some 13.9 million workers and contributing £575 billion to the economy. That’s some serious numbers – and we are one them.
A family-run business for over 25 years, we sell our company as ‘the KFE Family’ as that is how we want our staff and customers to feel. Speaking on National Family Business Day, Tanya Henderson, sales and marketing manager, adds: “I don’t think you get that close relationship if you’re not a family business. Family is the heart of everything we do. Plus, being family-run, our staff and our customers have the reassurance of longevity, they know we are here for the long-term.”
Like us, most fish and chip shops are still predominately family-run. With many having enjoyed success for decades, we asked four customers what makes a family fish and chip shop successful and survive over generations.
Communication – Stuart Fusco, third-generation family member and director at Quayside, Whitby, Yorkshire
“I think families have a better way of communicating. In family businesses, especially ours, you can be honest and upfront and you don’t take it personally. You feel like you can say what you need to say because you are all family,
“As a family, we don’t always agree, but we do all have the same end goal. And it’s good to have different opinions because that is what keeps your business vibrant and current. It’s like a board of directors but you are all related.”
Your team – Richard Ord Jnr, third-generation family member and owner of Colmans Seafood Temple in South Shields
“In a family business, you make your team part of the family and when they feel like part of the family they look after the customers how you want them to be looked after. As long as your customers are happy, your business will be successful. Overall I think one of the biggest things we have over the corporates is creating that family feel within a team. And it’s nice to have that family heritage too, I think people today more than ever want to support small family-run businesses.”
Having your roles – Alan Davison, second-generation family member and owner of Bizzie Lizzies in Skipton, North Yorkshire
“What we find makes our family business work is everybody having their own key roles and knowing what those roles are, because that way we don’t have conflict. One person is responsible for one area, be it prep, HR, advertising or whatever, and they are totally in charge of it. Having said that, we’ve found that with family when one is not there the other picks up the slack because it’s natural to fill it.
“Getting the dynamics right and ensuring everyone understands their roles are important because when the time comes to hand over to the next generation, everyone is prepared. I think that’s where a lot of family businesses fail because they haven’t got a succession plan in place for the business.”
Being present – George Morey, fifth generation family member and manager at Knights Fish & Chips, Glastonbury, Somerset
“A key ingredient for a family business to be successful is not expecting the place to work itself. It needs your input and your effort and you can’t shy away from being hands-on because it is your livelihood.
“For us especially, we have so much heritage – we have been family-owned since 1909 – and that is a huge pressure on us. No one wants to fail when so many of our ancestors have seen the business through two World Wars as well as various different financial crises. And, as with any long-running family businesses, we have kept so many people in work. We are not just family-run but family-staffed both in terms of our direct family and our staff – we have mothers and daughters, cousins, half brothers, all working here, which is a huge responsibility.”
We would like to wish all the family-run business operating in the fish and chip industry a happy National Family Business Day!
