Ipswich Chantry Codfellas owner Ozzie Bozdag shares journey

Ever since he took the helm of Codfellas in Greenfinch Avenue four years ago, Ozzie Bozdag has worked to become part of his local community.

The people of Chantry embraced him with open arms, and now, Ozzie said that he is determined to continue his efforts to support his community, which has stood by him in good times and bad.

When the Ipswich Star caught up with Ozzie, he was in the backroom of Codfellas peeling, washing and checking a new batch of potatoes before they could be cut into chips.

This is a job he likes to do himself, Ozzie explained, for he likes to ensure that each part of his stock is of the highest quality, something he is not prepared to compromise on.

Codfellas has received numerous awards over the years. (Image: Newsquest)Codfellas donated £200 to the Codfellas Customers Donation fund in February, which will be used to provide free meals to those in need. (Image: Newsquest)

Ozzie arrived in the UK from Turkey, aged 14, with his mother and sister on September 21, 2000. The family had come to join his father.

Together, father and son ran a pizza and kebab shop in Gainsborough for 17 years before Ozzie took over Codfellas in 2020. Now, he is the fourth generation of fish fryers in his family.

Giving back is also something he learned first-hand from his family. In their home city of Elazığ in Turkey, his grandfather would give away flour from his factory to people who were struggling.

“My grandfather told me, you are a good businessman, but you need to always remember the community behind you and do something for them,” Ozzie said.

Ozzie took these words to heart. Working with others in the community, he established the Codfellas Chantry Charity, which is now the Codfellas Customers Donation to which people can donate online. 

Money donated by customers is given back to good causes chosen by the community, whether that be foodbank supplies, the Salvation Army or donations to charities supporting vulnerable children.

For February, Codfellas donated £200 to the fund, which will be used to provide free portions of fish and chips to those who are struggling.

Ozzie has also committed to providing 50kg of potatoes to St Francis Church in Hawthorn Drive every week, “until my last breath”.

Ozzie is also a fully qualified driving instructor, and still gives lessons. He donates £5 from each lesson fee to the Codfellas Customers Donation fund. (Image: Newsquest)

Giving back has become even more important to Ozzie in recent times. Opening a new business at the height of the pandemic was challenging to say the least, and Ozzie said he received very little support from the government. He would often find himself working from 6am to midnight, determined to keep his shop afloat.

By April 2021, his mental health had taken downward turn. When he was at the shop alone, Ozzie remembered turning off all the lights and sitting in the dark.

Taking the advice from his family, Ozzie saw a psychiatrist in Turkey, who diagnosed him moderate to major depressive episodes and prescribed a course of medication.

Ozzie hoped that this would be an end to his problems. However, in January of 2023, he suffered a breakdown, which culminated in his going missing for several days.

Ozzie spent most of 2023 away from Codfellas, undergoing treatment and working to rebuild his mental health.

He said he was desperately worried about what would become of his business, his “third baby” in his absence.

However, Ozzie needn’t have worried. His three staff members, Jess, Josh and Jill, rose to the occasion, keeping the shop going and not missing a day’s work, even when they had their own personal problems to contend with.

“They believed in me, and they kept supporting me,” said Ozzie. “I really thought my shop would shut down, but they kept it going. I cannot thank them, and my community, enough.”

Now, Ozzie is working on another project that he is excited to share with his staff by way of thanks – but says we will have to stay tuned to hear more.