The cost of a portion of chips could soar in as little as weeks, with shortages feared after the heatwave hit potato crops this summer.
Suppliers have said their main potato crops have wilted in the unprecedented hot weather. It is feared the British staple takeaway could skyrocket in price by October - and may even rise as soon as September, in less than a fortnight's time.
Q Catering MD Steve Clarke told the Grocer magazine: "We’re getting indications of huge increases in chip prices which will go hand in hand with availability and supply issues.
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"From current prices we’re probably looking at a further 20% increase. That will take the overall increase to around 50% to 60% since last year."
The stark warning comes as inflation hit 10.1% on Wednesday in a 40-year high. Soaring energy bills and cooking oil prices are also impacting prices.
ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner said: "A wide range of price rises drove inflation up again this month. Food prices rose notably, particularly bakery products, dairy, meat and vegetables, which was also reflected in higher takeaway prices.
"Price rises in other staple items, such as pet food, toilet rolls, toothbrushes and deodorants, also pushed up inflation in July. Driven by higher demand, the price for package holidays rose, after falling at the same time last year, while air fares also increased.
"The cost of both raw materials and goods leaving factories continued to rise, driven by the price of metals and food respectively."
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