£4.69 for a large portion of chips wtf...

[Meltinthemiddle]

and I definitely wouldn't say it is a large portion! I couldn't believe. I know prices have gone up but it's only potatoes fgs.

There are some businesses that operate on volume/footfall. Their turnover enable them to keep prices lower.

I genuinely cannot see how they are doing that. VAT will be taking about 35/40p of that and for us, the balance is not far off costs. We would be making a loss on that when everything factored in (rent, staff, corp tax etc).

True to a degree. We are one of the busiest shops in our area but the product still has to sell for more than cost. Our large chips are more than £2 in direct costs.

One way to do it cheaply is to remove the VAT (which as well as being illegal, and stupid, is morally wrong as well)

I genuinely cannot see how they are doing that. VAT will be taking about 35/40p of that and for us, the balance is not far off costs. We would be making a loss on that when everything factored in (rent, staff, corp tax etc).

Yes, I agree. I'd like to know where this is @abigailsnan as one of them in the area will have a website. I'd like to see the other prices on the other things they sell.

I genuinely cannot see how they are doing that. VAT will be taking about 35/40p of that and for us, the balance is not far off costs. We would be making a loss on that when everything factored in (rent, staff, corp tax etc)

As well as the high turnover, highly efficient businesses, some that take a lot of cash won't declare it all.

Takeaway food is also a common front for money laundering.

It's probably not the case now, but it used to be that if you were a very small family run fish and chip shop you could stay under the VAT threshold and still make enough money to provide an income for a couple. You'd just limit your opening hours to the busiest lunch and tea times.

Interesting article. I know the East Neuk of Fyfe quite well. So sad about the chip shop fires.

@QuitMoaning they're probably selling chips as a loss-leader to get people in the door, then charging higher prices for fish, meat, burgers, drinks, etc.