Haddon Salt

H. Salt Esq. Authentic English Fish & Chips logo, circa 1967

Haddon Salt was a British entrepreneur who founded H. Salt, Esq. Authentic English Fish and Chips in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, before relocating and expanding the business in the United States. His approach to selling traditional English fish and chips across North America made a significant impact on the fast-food industry, particularly in the way British cuisine was marketed and consumed overseas.

Early Life

Haddon Salt was born in England, where he was initially involved in his family's fish and chips restaurant. The exact details of his early life, including his birth date and education, remain sparse. However, it is known that his experience in his family's business laid the groundwork for his future endeavors in the fast-food industry.

Career

In the 1950s, Salt moved to Canada and opened his first fish and chips restaurant in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. His business was a success, but he sought larger markets and subsequently moved to the United States. In 1965, he established H. Salt, Esq. Authentic English Fish and Chips in San Francisco, California. The restaurant was distinctive for its authentic British-style fish and chips, a novelty in the American fast-food market at the time.

Salt's business model was based on franchising, a relatively new concept in the food industry during the 1960s. He expanded his brand rapidly across California and eventually other states. By the early 1970s, there were over 500 H. Salt Fish & Chips shops in the United States. However, in 1970, Salt sold his franchise to KFC, then a subsidiary of Heublein Inc., which further expanded the brand before it began to decline in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Legacy

Haddon Salt's legacy lies in his pioneering approach to franchising in the fast-food industry and his role in popularizing British cuisine, particularly fish and chips, in North America. His model demonstrated the potential for international cuisine to find a market in the United States through franchising. Although the number of H. Salt, Esq. shops has significantly decreased since their peak, the brand still holds a nostalgic place in the hearts of many who grew up with it.

See Also

• Fish and chips
• Franchising
• Fast food industry
• British cuisine in the United States