News Review
Winning Chippie Backs Better Burgers
Not only is David Henley the fastest chip fryer in the world (the Guinness Book of Records say so) he is also one of the best. Accolades line the walls of his destination fish & chip shop in Wivenhoe, near Colchester, which attracts customers from up to 40 miles away.
Mr. Henley treats food preparation as theatre. Customers can choose their own fillet of fish from a chilled display and watch all aspects of the cooking and serving operation.
It is this sort of approach which has earned Mr. Henley and his team both regional and national awards in the Seafish Fish & Chip Shop of the Year plus the regional title of Best Chippy in National Chip Week.
With 26 years in the business Mr. Henley believes attention to detail is vital.
“A lot of good outlets concentrate just on the fish. Quality is paramount and you have to have that across the whole range. Too many buy a lower grade burger and a cheap sausage and that is false economy,” he said.
On the burger front he was helped in the quest for quality by fast food wholesaler Jan Topolewski of Fast Food Supplies (Anglia).
Mr. Topolewski supplied samples of burgers to compare with the outlet’s existing choice.
“We did taste tests with both the staff and customers and the unanimous verdict was in favour of Wholebeef Beefburgers from Paragon Quality Foods. “It keeps its shape, there’s little shrinkage and it has a meaty taste. It stays moist and that delivers a good texture so it goes down well and has helped build this business,” said Mr. Henley.
It also goes down quickly. Mr. Henley expects to serve a tempered burger from pack via griddle to customer in 2 ½ minutes – “and that’s important because ww are in the fast food business”.
For Mr. Topolewski, Henley’s is a good example of following the quality route to build bigger orders and he has revelled in the growth of the Henley burger order.
With five dual temperature delivery vehicles Mr. Topolewski has built the wholesaling business of Fast Food Supplies (Anglia) over the last 20 years with customers from the East Coast to the M11 and from the Thames to the Wash.
His base is now bursting at the seams and the company is in discussions with local authorities and others in the search for the ideal site from which to embark on the next phase of expansion.
Watch out for David Henley on TV later this year. He’s slated to go head to head with celebrity chef Gary Rhodes in a competitive cook off focusing on fish and chips.
