Sustainability is becoming increasingly important across the food industry, and fish and chip shops are no exception. At The Q Partnership (Henry Colbeck, Friars Pride & V.A. Whitley), we know that our customers care about where their products come from, how ingredients are sourced, and the impact their choices have on the planet.
That’s why we are proud to support fish and chip shops on their journey towards more sustainable operations — starting with one of the most important ingredients in our trade: palm oil.
Why Sustainable Palm Oil Matters to Fish & Chip Shops
Palm oil is widely used across the fish and chip sector due to its high performance, stability, and cost-effectiveness. But palm oil also comes with global environmental concerns, including deforestation and habitat loss — especially when it is not responsibly sourced.
By promoting and supplying 100% sustainable, deforestation-free palm oil, The Q Partnership helps shops:
Reassure customers they are making ethical choices
Strengthen their environmental credentials
Stay ahead of growing demand for sustainable, traceable products
Reduce the stigma and misinformation around palm oil use
This gives fish and chip shops confidence that their frying medium supports — rather than harms — the environment.
Our Role as Conservation Champions
As a recognised Conservation Champion with Chester Zoo, we help fund and support global efforts to protect rainforests and wildlife affected by unsustainable palm oil production. This is directly connected to the very oil many UK fish and chip shops use daily, making the work highly relevant to our industry.
Our commitment allows us to support Chester Zoo’s long-term field partner Hutan, based in Malaysian Borneo — an area deeply affected by palm oil agriculture.
How Our Partnership Makes a Difference
Through our contribution, Chester Zoo and Hutan can carry out essential conservation activities including:
🌱 Reforestation Projects
Replanting and restoring rainforest that has been lost due to unsustainable farming.
📸 Biodiversity & Camera-Trap Surveys
Collecting vital scientific data to better understand wildlife populations.
🦧 Wildlife Corridors
Creating safe passage routes for orangutans and other species across fragmented landscapes.
These efforts bring balance to palm oil-producing regions and help ensure that the oil used in our industry comes from sources that protect — not destroy — ecosystems.
What This Means for Your Fish & Chip Shop
By choosing to work with The Q Partnership, fish and chip shops are choosing to work with a supplier that:
Actively supports sustainable palm oil at a national level
Helps protect wildlife, rainforests, and communities affected by palm oil production
Gives shops a story they can proudly share with customers
Provides traceable, ethical products without compromising performance or quality
Your customers increasingly want to know that the businesses they support are making responsible choices. With sustainable palm oil — backed up by real conservation work — fish and chip shops can confidently demonstrate that they care about the planet and the future of our industry.
Together, We’re Making a Real Impact
The fish and chip sector is an iconic part of the UK’s food culture — and by choosing sustainable products, it can also be a leader in environmental responsibility.
Our ongoing collaboration with Chester Zoo reflects our long-term commitment to supporting shops, protecting ecosystems, and ensuring sustainability remains at the heart of the industry we serve.
