Did you know most chips are not made in Ireland?

Upforthematch · 15-08-2020 01:45PM #1

I was amazed to discover this lately.

This includes fast food chains, supermarket chips and even many local chippers who don't make their own.

We are a country synonymous with the spud and yet ten years ago there was not one company in Ireland that produced chips.

There are at least two of them now
Wall's honest chips, a company based in Cork who stock fresh chips in Aldi and Supervalu
And Meade Rooster chips, a company based in Meath who stock frozen chips in most supermarkets.

Irish farmers - why hasn't there been a campaign about this like there is for Irish Beef & Chicken?! Love Irish Chips!

The market for irish potatoes has halved in the last ten years and here are we importing over 120,000 tonnes of potatoes per annum for chips, it's just madness.

screamer · 15-08-2020 01:48PM

Upforthematch wrote: »

I was amazed to discover this lately.

This includes fast food chains, supermarket chips and even many local chippers who don't make their own.

We are a country synonymous with the spud and yet ten years ago there was not one company in Ireland that produced chips.

There are at least two of them now
Wall's honest chips, a company based in Cork who stock fresh chips in Aldi and Supervalu
And Meade Rooster chips, a company based in Meath who stock frozen chips in most supermarkets.

Irish farmers - why hasn't there been a campaign about this like there is for Irish Beef & Chicken?! Love Irish Chips!

The market for irish potatoes has halved in the last ten years and here are we importing over 120,000 tonnes of potatoes per annum for chips, it's just madness.

Yes I’ve known this for a long time. You can buy a kg of chips cheaper than you can buy a kg of potatoes so it makes sense when you think about it. Disgraceful at the same time that junk food is cheaper than real food and that we import something made from our staples which could well be produced here.

EmmetSpiceland · 15-08-2020 02:00PM

screamer wrote: »

Yes I’ve known this for a long time. You can buy a kg of chips cheaper than you can buy a kg of potatoes so it makes sense when you think about it. Disgraceful at the same time that junk food is cheaper than real food and that we import something made from our staples which could well be produced here.

So, you’ve known all this time and didn’t say anything? I guess that makes you a...spec-tater.

Treppen · 15-08-2020 02:04PM

Upforthematch wrote: »

I was amazed to discover this lately.

This includes fast food chains, supermarket chips and even many local chippers who don't make their own.

We are a country synonymous with the spud and yet ten years ago there was not one company in Ireland that produced chips.

There are at least two of them now
Wall's honest chips, a company based in Cork who stock fresh chips in Aldi and Supervalu
And Meade Rooster chips, a company based in Meath who stock frozen chips in most supermarkets.

Irish farmers - why hasn't there been a campaign about this like there is for Irish Beef & Chicken?! Love Irish Chips!

The market for irish potatoes has halved in the last ten years and here are we importing over 120,000 tonnes of potatoes per annum for chips, it's just madness.

Different type of spud, so Irish farmers mostly specialise in the boiled variety. Roosters, Kerr's, Records, Wonder etc

Man with broke phone · 15-08-2020 02:05PM

The irish potato is too good for chips. Although slice them into thin circles dip them in warm oil and throw them in the air fryer at about 180 for 15 mins and its a lovely side for steak.

ongarite · 15-08-2020 02:07PM

I'd guess it's because we don't grow the variety of potato, Moris Piper or Russet in large enough quantities.
Irish consumers prefer Queens, Roosters, etc..

Water John · 15-08-2020 02:12PM

ongarite wrote: »

I'd guess it's because we don't grow the variety of potato, Moris Piper or Russet in large enough quantities.
Irish consumers prefer Queens, Roosters, etc..

Cart before horse there. Farmers will grow any variety of potato, if there's a market.
TMK years ago there was a manu plant in Donegal. But one of the multiples screwed them into the ground.

Upforthematch · 15-08-2020 02:16PM

Man with broke phone wrote: »

The irish potato is too good for chips. Although slice them into thin circles dip them in warm oil and throw them in the air fryer at about 180 for 15 mins and its a lovely side for steak.

Luxury product opportunity here like!

Irish butter
Irish cheese
Irish milk
Irish lamb
Irish beef

etc...
etc...

why not Irish chips - given the world links Ireland and the potato together in any case, it would be a start.

Interesting type of chip, made in Ireland, served in most chippers/restaurants, bingo!

strandroad · 15-08-2020 02:19PM

What happens at a typical local chipper then? Are they frozen :eek:

Water John · 15-08-2020 02:23PM

A real chipper would cut inhouse, but then the potatoes may be sourced abroad via a wholesaler.

BTW Grass fed Irish Beef is being applied to the EU for PGI status;
https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/irish-grass-fed-beef-pgi-application-bulls-excluded-with-travel-limit-inserted/

Then you can insist on Irish steak and chips.

whisky_galore · 15-08-2020 02:29PM

This should hardly come as any great surprise.

Randle P. McMurphy · 15-08-2020 02:32PM

I honestly don't give a fiddlers fvck where they are made.

Upforthematch · 15-08-2020 02:46PM

strandroad wrote: »

What happens at a typical local chipper then? Are they frozen :eek:

A lot are definitely, when you hear Supermacs making a big deal out of making the chips in house that's a hint.

Out of interest, I googled 'chipshopcatering.ie' and it clearly says on the website our potatoes are grown in the UK and Spain.

http://www.chipshopcatering.ie/potatoes/

Now don't get me wrong, I know that Ireland doesn't have a comparative advantage in producing something like cars, but I honestly thought that potatoes would have been one we would have been self-sufficient with!

Del2005 · 15-08-2020 02:56PM

Upforthematch wrote: »

Luxury product opportunity here like!

Irish butter
Irish cheese
Irish milk
Irish lamb
Irish beef

etc...
etc...

why not Irish chips - given the world links Ireland and the potato together in any case, it would be a start.

Interesting type of chip, made in Ireland, served in most chippers/restaurants, bingo!

Chips aren't considered a luxury product, no matter how much skin is left on it! Are spuds of any type considered a luxury product?

kenmm · 15-08-2020 03:00PM

strandroad wrote: »

What happens at a typical local chipper then? Are they frozen :eek:

Yes. Also a lot of the Italian chipper brands use ****e fish as well.

Irish chippers are often a complete disappointment (compared to Scottish or English ones for example).

Quantum Erasure · 15-08-2020 03:00PM

I think Holland is where most come from,

kenmm · 15-08-2020 03:01PM

Treppen wrote: »

Different type of spud, so Irish farmers mostly specialise in the boiled variety. Roosters, Kerr's, Records, Wonder etc

Never been a fan of those Roosters. Dunno why people go mad for them.

ciano1 · 15-08-2020 03:01PM

Upforthematch wrote: »

A lot are definitely, when you hear Supermacs making a big deal out of making the chips in house that's a hint.

When I worked in Supermacs, I distinctly remember the chips arriving in boxes with 'Product of Belgium' printed on the side. Occasionally we'd get french ones in too. They all tasted the same once they were sprinkled in the aromat salt that they use

paul71 · 15-08-2020 03:03PM

Its opportunity cost.

Of course Irish farmers could grow cheaper varieties of potatoes but why should they.

They can make more money per acre from Diary or more expensive potatoes.

Atlantic Dawn · 15-08-2020 03:05PM

Minimum wage is too high to be arsing about making chips.

Beechwoodspark · 15-08-2020 03:06PM

strandroad wrote: »

What happens at a typical local chipper then? Are they frozen :eek:

The like of the big multiples
Burger King
Supermacs
McDonald’s
KFC

Are definelty frozen

A lot of independent chippers use frozen too - I avoid them and give my custom to proper chippers

Supermacs chips are fairly woeful - shame on mcdonagh as an Irish operator

Beechwoodspark · 15-08-2020 03:07PM

ciano1 wrote: »

When I worked in Supermacs, I distinctly remember the chips arriving in boxes with 'Product of Belgium' printed on the side. Occasionally we'd get french ones in too. They all tasted the same once they were sprinkled in the aromat salt that they use

Shameful from mcdonagh

kenmm · 15-08-2020 03:08PM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Minimum wage is too high to be arsing about making chips.

It doesn't take long really. 1-2 hours per day for a typical chipper. A bit more in the winter when the spuds are off season.

But generally the economies of scale kick in for other reasons plus they are happy to put out an inferior product (because people happily lap it up).

Shame really, I'd pay a bit more for a decent chipper, but I know of none in Dublin area really.

Beechwoodspark · 15-08-2020 03:10PM

kenmm wrote: »

Yes. Also a lot of the Italian chipper brands use ****e fish as well.

Irish chippers are often a complete disappointment (compared to Scottish or English ones for example).

Yep and a lot of them use the cheapest of the cheap frozen burgers as well.

The color Grey with a nasty after taste doused in cheap mayo/tomato sauce.

The Tetrarch · 15-08-2020 03:13PM

About 50 years ago shiploads of seed potatoes went from Ireland to countries around the eastern Mediterranean.
I think they grew them and shipped the crop back to the UK as early potatoes.

IAMAMORON · 15-08-2020 03:13PM

I know a fella gets his beef dripping sent down from the north, he told me he gets his off his brother and doesn't pay an ounce of import tax on it.

I reported him.

He also said that Tudors were nicer than queens or GW's for deep frying, he is right though.

ILoveYourVibes · 15-08-2020 03:14PM

I don't like potatoes.

harr · 15-08-2020 03:19PM

My local Italian chipper makes his own chips from scratch but I have no idea where he sources his spuds .. cooks them in lard as well ..

Harry Palmr · 15-08-2020 03:19PM

Ireland imported 70000 tonnes of potatoes in 2017, that's your actual spuds not potato based product like chips and crisps. Ireland is in thrall to milk and beef, nothing else else much matters now. It's why "market farming" for veg is practically dead.

un5byh7sqpd2x0 · 15-08-2020 04:03PM

Intel make chips in Leixlip.

Water John · 15-08-2020 04:10PM

The highest rental paid for agricultural land is for growing potatoes. Potatoes cannot be grown repeatedly on the same ground for disease reasons.
That means potatoes are only grown on tillage land that also grows grain.
There is a bit of work in making chips in house. When cut they are kept in a tub of water to prevent them colouring and to de-starch them.

Did you know most chips are not made in Ireland?

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