NFFF “LIKELY TO CLOSE” FOR GOOD
The National Federation of Fish Fryers (NFFF) is imploding and likely to close down entirely sometime soon. That's the view of Gordon Hillan of the Townhead Café at Biggar, current champion in the national Fish & Chip Shop of the Year competition.
Hillan's stance follows his recent abortive co-option on to the NFFF board along with Calum Richardson of The Bay Fish & Chips at Stonehaven. "First were co-opted but then told that this was done illegally and that we were no longer so," said Hillan. "It's because of their constitution. That can be changed, but only once a year at an AGM. But even then voting is done by people who have been given votes by many others.
"The result is that it's the dinosaurs who have all the votes. And the way things are going it looks like the NFFF will come to close."
In a strange twist since, both Hillan and Richardson have been co-opted once again. However, the NFFF remains largely at an impasse, without a president and minus many regional chiefs. Hillan believes that "nobody is even sure who is in charge."
He believes that the industry has done nothing to improve the lot of the industry over the last year but has instead spent its time infighting and arguing over its constitution, adding that if it does close then it needs to be replaced by a more focused and pro-active trade body. "The opportunity definitely is there though to push the industry forward. We could take our lead from NEODA, which is a very successful association."
Hillan's bewilderment is shared, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, by the NFFF's vice president David Tomlinson., who told FRY Monthly: "The ordinary fish fryer out there is being extremely badly served right now - it's a tragedy.
As to whether the organisation is likely to fold, he added: "After a special Executive meeting we've been advised by the Federation's accountants to get a cash flow programme together. We need to know what our financial position is. We've been advised by the accounts though that we're unlikely to be unable to be able to afford a general secretary right now."
The presidential issue though my be about to be resolved, after the resignation of Dave Audley at the recent AGM. "I can confirm though ballot papers are going out in the next week as we're looking for a new President. We'll know better where we stand after one is found."
Gordon Hillan, who says that the opportunity must be taken to move the industry forward - a view supported by the NFFF's vice President who tells us that "The ordinary fish fryer out there is being extremely badly served right now"
