A man wearing a blue jacket leaning against a metal handrail of a shipping vessel with a view of Norwegian fjord coastline behind him.
08.07.2026

The Real Food Cafe Goes to Norway

As winners of the Sustainable Business category at the National Fish & Chip 
Awards 2026 - the official awards for the fish and chip industry - we have been treated to a once-in-a-lifetime visit to Norway to experience first hand the country’s fishing culture and heritage courtesy of one of the awards’ principal sponsor, Seafood from Norway. 

This time, it was time for our Cafe Manager, Alex, to go and oh boy, did he have a fabulous time! 

Alex proudly represented the Café and enjoyed an incredible opportunity to learn more about Norway's fishing industry, from visiting a state-of-the-art fishing vessel to seeing sustainable cod fishing in action, to learning about cod farming innovations, meeting industry colleagues and tasting some of the freshest and seafood. 

Visiting Geir, a family-run longliner skippered by the son of its original owners was definitely one of the trip’s highlights. During its visit, the group learned about longlining, a highly selective and sustainable method of catching cod, using lines stretching over 30km and carrying more than 70,000 individually baited hooks.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Ålesund, the trip offered a fascinating insight into the journey of the fish we proudly serve every day - MSC certified Haddock. 


Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers and one of the organisers of the National Fish & Chip Awards, which has been rewarding excellence since 1988, says: “The annual trip to Norway is a money-can’t-buy experience that takes our category winners on a cultural exploration of the seafood industry, where they witness the beauty of the country’s fishing heritage and tradition being advanced by state-of-the-art vessels and technologies to preserve nature and the environment as responsibly as possible."

“It’s a fully immersive experience where guests go onboard trawlers and see the fish being 
caught and processed, as well as gaining deeper understanding of how the best quality fish from the freshest waters make their way to UK fish and chip shops. So much knowledge is gathered and it’s a great privilege to put all that’s been learned into serving customers even better fish and chips. Thank you to Seafood from Norway for this invaluable opportunity for our 2026 winners.”

Seafood from Norway’s Bjørn-Erik Stabell, UK Country Director for the Norwegian Seafood Council, says: Seafood from Norway’s Bjørn-Erik Stabell, UK Country Director for the Norwegian Seafood Council, says: “Every year, we together with the entire Norwegian Frozen-at-Sea group are proud to welcome the winners to Norway and give them first-hand insight into the people, places and expertise behind the seafood they serve. Our guests stepped aboard working vessels, saw how Norwegian seafood is caught, processed and handled, and gained a deeper understanding of the care, quality and provenance behind its journey from Norway’s cold, clear waters to the plate.

“They returned with valuable knowledge and inspiration to share with their teams and 
customers, while the visit also celebrated the longstanding relationship between Norway and the UK fish and chip industry, and our shared commitment to serving high-quality, responsibly produced seafood.”

Find more photos on our facebook post

 

 

Pictured in the cover photo: Alex Dima, The Real Food Cafe Manager