Chip Shop Competition On Again

MEDIA RELEASE
03 June 2008

Chip Shop Competition On Again

The search for New Zealand’s top chippie gets underway this month with shops able to register to take part in the ‘That’s Life! Best Chip Competition 2008’.

Chairperson of The Chip Group, Glenda Gourley, said it has never been easier for chippies to make award winning chips, following the recent launch of the ‘New Zealand Standards for Deep Fried Chips in Independent Fast Food Outlets’.

“Also last month, a series of online training modules called Chip Group Online Training, were officially launched to help chip shops put into practice the Standards.

“There are eight training modules covering chip size, portion size, oil temperature, cooking/deep-frying, drainage, oil maintenance, filtering and cleaning, and salt.

“Shops that complete the modules will not only increase their odds of being crowned top chippie but they will also enhance customer satisfaction and achieve greater business efficiencies.

“It’s a win-win situation for all involved,” Glenda said.

Heart Foundation nutritionist, Judith Morley-John, said shops competing in the That’s Life! Best Chip Shop Competition 2008 are being actively encouraged to follow the Standards.

“Research shows that consumers prefer the taste of chips when they are cooked according to the Standards.

“Last year there was an average fat content of 7.6% recorded across all of the samples for the six winning shops. This was lower than the 8.2% average for the previous year,” Judith said.

“In the last two competitions operators’ standards have been really high. This shows that they are being proactive by continuing to lift the bar in their service and product quality.

“Chip shops that have registered to take part in the Competition will receive a poster to display instore which will let their customers know that they are trying to follow good procedures, and have what it takes to be New Zealand’s best chippie.”

As with previous years, a combination of public texting voting, mystery judging and chip fat analysis will determine the 15 regional finalists from each of the six regions across New Zealand, as well as six regional winners and a Grand National winner.

Public text voting runs from 1 August to 30 September and mystery judging will be carried out in October with the regional and Grand National winners announced early in November.

The That’s Life! Best Chip Shop Competition 2008 is the country’s only national chip shop competition and this year is supported by That’s Life!, Goodman Fielder, Huhtamaki, Bakels, Food2Go Magazine, McCain Foods (NZ) Ltd, Moffat, Mr Chips, Horticulture New Zealand, Premo Filtration, Southern Hospitality, Kauri, Alfa One, Eurotech and The National Heart Foundation.

Chip shops can register for free to take part in the Competition, or complete the training modules which are available in both English and Cantonese by visiting www.thechipgroup.co.nz
-ends-

© Scoop Media