25 Years, 25,000 Smiles: Our Biggest Day Yet

When I first floated the idea of raising £25,000 in a single day, people looked at me like I’d lost the plot. But if you know me, you’ll know once I’ve got an idea in my head, there’s no stopping me.

This whole thing started back in October 2024, when I sat down and thought, “Right, 25 years of Krispies deserves something special.” What better way to celebrate than by giving back to the community that’s supported us from day one?

From Teenagers with a Fryer to 25 Years of Family

When Tim and I opened our first shop, I was 22 and he was just 19. We had no staff, no savings — just a fryer, a dream, and a lot of determination. We peeled the potatoes, fried the fish, scrubbed the pans, and somehow made it work.

Fast forward twenty-five years, and Krispies has become a part of our community — something bigger than just a chippy. So, to mark the milestone, we wanted to do something with real meaning.

That’s how the Krispies Big Charity Challenge was born: £25,000 for 25 years. It sounded bold, it sounded a bit daft, but it felt right.

Why We Chose HeadsUP

Choosing a charity was easy. We went with HeadsUP, a small Devon-based charity supporting children’s mental health in local primary schools. They run everything from classroom workshops to one-to-one counselling sessions, helping children deal with anxiety and build confidence.

What really struck me was that waiting times for help can be up to six months. The money we raised will help fund another counsellor — meaning more kids get support faster. Knowing that a day of frying fish could help change lives… that’s what it was all about.

The Madness Behind the Magic

We started planning seriously in January. There were brainstorming sessions, wild ideas, even talk of celebrity appearances! But in the end, we went back to what we do best — serving great fish and chips, this time for £5 a portion with every penny going to charity.

Then came the prep. Thirty cases of fish. One hundred sacks of potatoes. A mountain of boxes that never seemed to end. I was in at 7am with my kids helping prep fish, and they still remind me about it! But having them there made it feel even more special — a real family affair.

By noon, queues were forming. By 7pm, we had to stop taking walk-ins because we were completely sold out. The tills crashed, the Wi-Fi dropped, and one customer pulled out a ukulele and started playing. Suddenly my staff were singing along while still serving chips — chaos, but joyful chaos.

Teamwork Makes It Happen

I asked my team to donate their time that day, and every single one of them said yes. That’s because at Krispies, we don’t do “bosses” and “staff” — we’re equals. We’ve got people who’ve been with us for sixteen years and new faces who just joined, but everyone worked side by side.

Paula from HeadsUP came down to see it for herself. When I told her we’d hit £8,000 in pre-orders before the doors even opened, she was speechless. Later that night, she said she’d never seen teamwork like it. I told her, “It’s like ballet — when you put the right people in the right places, it’s beautiful to watch.”

A Community Effort

It wasn’t just our team — the whole town got behind it. We even held a children’s art competition to promote the event. The winning entry came from eight-year-old Ellyse O’Connor, whose bright, happy drawing captured exactly what the day was about — fish, chips, and smiling faces.

Local schools shared the event in their newsletters, and we reached out to over 100 businesses in Exeter and Exmouth. Our social media consultant worked wonders — one of our videos got 90,000 views! It was proof that authenticity and community spirit still cut through the noise.

Our Incredible Suppliers

We couldn’t have done it without our amazing suppliers: Ceres, KFE, Mitchells Potatoes, T. Quality, Friars Pride, Smales, and SJB Foods. Every single one stepped up to help. From Ceres donating our curry to Smales supplying beautiful fish, their support turned an ambitious dream into a reality.

The Day Itself

It was like a Friday night rush — but for nine hours straight. At one point, I swapped shops with Tim, gave him a quick peck on the cheek, and dashed back to keep up with the orders. It was non-stop frying, laughing, singing, and, yes, a few tears.

By the end, we’d raised £24,196.51. Technically shy of £25,000, but let’s be honest — that’s close enough!

What I Took Away

By 10pm, my feet were aching, the oil was low, and I swore I’d never do it again. Of course, give me a few months and I’ll probably be planning the next one.

Because that’s what it’s all about — community, connection, and purpose. It reminded me that even in tough times, people still turn up for each other.

When I talked about it on The Ceres Podcast, I said it was more than a fundraiser — it was a celebration of what makes our industry special: teamwork, generosity, and love for what we do.

Final Thoughts

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that fish and chips can do more than feed people — they can bring them together.

Fish and chips is what we do, but community is who we are.