When SPAM® Chopped Pork and Ham set a challenge of creating the UK 's largest SPAM® Fritter Francine, of Francine's Fish and Chip shop in Milehouse Plymouth rose to the challenge, pimping her Fritter to the max.

Multi-award winning Francine, who is a huge SPAM™ fan and has twice won SPAM™ Chippie of the year, created a whopping SPAM® Fritter that weighed just under 3 kilo's and measured a stunning18 x 12 inches.

Francine comments: “We wanted to make the biggest SPAM® Fritter we possibly could and admittedly there were many aborted attempts. However we finally managed to master the perfect Fritter and had so much fun in the process - of course owning a fish and chip shop really helped when coming to frying a fritter of that size!”

SPAM® European brand manager, Rebecca Wilson commented: “We have an extensive following via our online fan club and we knew when we challenged SPAM™ fans that we wouldn't be disappointed.

“We promised £100 to the best ‘pimped' Fritter and Francine is most definitely a worthy winner. She put a tremendous amount of time and effort into perfecting her giant SPAM® Fritter and she has done herself proud. She can now proudly say she has another SPAM title under her belt too!”

Both Francine and the shop itself have won several prestigious awards, the most recent being the renowned Seafish Fryers Quality Award, which the shop has won five years running. Francine has also won Plymouth Women of Achievement title for business.

Along with SPAM™ Chippie of the Year title Francine can now proudly showcase her giant SPAM® Fritter, which is sure to be a hit with her loyal customers.

If you are a true SPAM™ fan, make sure you join the official UK SPAM™ Fan Club - visit www.spam-uk.com to sign up and receive special offers and details of competitions.

Multi-award winning Francine Baker of Francine's fish and chip shop attributes much of her success to using the leading vegetable fat P100.

Francine has been using P100 for over 25 years since the former President of the Fish Fryers Association, Ken Axeworthy recommended the brand. She said, “Ken was our supplier at the time and we trusted his opinion when he advised us to try a different product. That was 25 years ago and I have never looked back. I'm a P100 girl through and through!

“Using P100 ensures we consistently produce delicious, fresh tasting fish and chips. It filters well and as it is made entirely from vegetable oil, is free from hydrogenated oils, additives and animal fats, it is a healthy and nutritious meal. Our customers know they are guaranteed great food from Francine's every time as we always use the highest quality ingredients. ”

Based in Milehouse in Plymouth, Francine's fish and chip shop was originally a garden centre until bought and renovated by Francine and husband Martin six years ago. Both Francine herself and the shop itself have won several prestigious awards. The most recent being the renowned Seafish Friers Quality Award which the shop has won  five years running. Francine has the accolade of winning the Plymouth Women of Achievement title for business.  

Francine only uses plaice, Icelandic cod and haddock and has instilled in her staff the message that they should only serve customers food that they would eat themselves. Quality control is top of the agenda and Francine says using P100 is part of her winning formula.

“I have been offered other frying oils to use over the years which have been cheaper but always inferior to P100 in terms of quality and effectiveness so I have always declined them. Why would I change what I am happy with? Customers know if you scrimp on ingredients to save money, they can immediately tell from the poor taste. I see it as an investment in my business to use the best quality products which results in retaining regular customers and winning new ones. The awards I win are great too! However the real measure of success is the fact that my customers are happy and keep coming back,” Francine says. 

Francine's is heavily involved in the local community and supports various different charities and organisations through sponsorship and fundraising. Francine recently sponsored Fish & Chips and Fast Food's Frazer Clifford when he did the half marathon in Blackpool . Francine said, “If I can help my staff and customers help others less fortunate then I will. I get involved because I enjoy it, but also because I want to put something back into the community.” 

P100 is produced by Vandemoortele, the Belgian food group founded in 1899. The group employs a 3,400 strong workforce across 12 European countries. This figure is expected to increase to over 3,600 during 2007. Turnover in 2006 was €870 million. Vandemoortele has built a reputation across the continent for innovation and quality as well as its commitment to customers and the food sector overall.

P100 brand manager Andrew Wisedale said: “Francine's is an extremely popular and well run business, highly regarded by the community and the industry for always producing award winning fish and chips. We are delighted that P100 has played a part in her success.”