A business in Wheeler’s Hill Victoria has been named the best fish and chip shop in Australia.

After coming close to winning last year, The Kingfisher Blue has taken out the top prize in the annual Australia’s Best Fish ‘n’ Chip Shop 2010 competition run by oil giant Crisco.

Hundreds of fish and chip shops from all across Australia competed for the honour with the 2010 competition receiving the largest-ever number of votes by consumers.

The Kingfisher Blue co-proprietor Gerry Lionatos says he was thrilled by the result and grateful to his customers for “getting us to where we are”.

“We came third in last year’s competition, which was terrific, but this time our customers really got together and put in more votes,” he said.

“We do take pride in what we present and it’s great when your customers realise that and give back to you by voting you number one.”

Lionatos and his business partner Chris Tsaousidis have won a trip for two to Fiji and $2,400 worth of publicity—from national television exposure on Channel Seven’s Sunrise program to coverage in the local news media.

It was a tight battle with The Kingfisher Blue receiving just 29 votes more than runner-up Berny's at Batehaven in Batehaven, in New South Wales.