The dream begins
The idea that would eventually become Vincenzo's little black van began in 2017. It would take years of work, experience and determination to turn that dream into the business people know today.
Vincenzo • Giuliana • The Little Black Van
OUR STORY
A dream that began in 2017. A family business built in Stirling. Three major awards. Thousands of customers. Years of giving back. And now, one little black van taking proper fish & chips to communities across Scotland.
🏆 Best Fish Supper Central Scotland 2024🏆 Best Chip Shop Central Scotland 2024🏆 Best Fish & Chip Shop Stirling 2025
This is Vincenzo's
More than fish & chips.
Vincenzo's has never been only about what comes out of the fryer. It is about Vincenzo and Giuliana, family, hard work, the people at the hatch and the communities that welcomed us.
From our years in Cowane Street to the road in our little black van, one promise has never changed: cook fresh, serve generously, look after people and never forget the community behind the name.
The Cowane Street years
Vincenzo and Giuliana built Vincenzo's reputation in Stirling through long days, consistency and a very simple philosophy: proper fish & chips, cooked with care, and customers treated like people rather than numbers.
When television came to Vincenzo's
Our Stirling shop became part of the Wheeler Dealers story, welcoming Mike Brewer and Marc “Elvis” Priestley during filming connected with Discovery. It was one of those unforgettable moments when our small family business suddenly found itself in the television spotlight — deep-fried Mars Bar included.
Giving back — Stirling & District Women's Aid
In 2024 our customers came together for a two-day charity fundraiser for Stirling & District Women's Aid. More than 600 people were served and £1,312.50 was raised, followed by a further £80 in donations. The community response was extraordinary.
The fundraiser was later recognised in a motion in the Scottish Parliament — a proud moment not just for us, but for everyone who queued, donated and helped.
A double Central Scotland win
2024 brought two major honours: Best Fish Supper Central Scotland and Best Chip Shop Central Scotland. We carried those awards home for every customer and every person who had supported us.
In memory of Lisa McGloin
We returned to fundraising in 2025 with an event supporting Stirling & District Women's Aid and Strathcarron Hospice, held in memory of Lisa McGloin. The main fundraising delivered £1,041.50 to each charity, with charity boxes adding further donations of £282 and £360.
Once again the effort was recognised in the Scottish Parliament. For us, however, the most important part was seeing customers turn fish & chips into something that could help other people.
Best Fish & Chip Shop — Stirling
Another milestone: Best Fish & Chip Shop Stirling 2025. Three awards across two years confirmed what our customers had been telling us — but the people behind the counter remained the same Vincenzo and Giuliana.
The little black van takes to the road
On 22 March 2026 the dream became real. The little black van began serving communities on the road. The queues, messages and welcomes we received made it clear that this was no side project — it was the beginning of the next chapter.
VAN ONLY
We made the huge decision to close the Cowane Street shop and put all our energy into the little black van. Vincenzo's became a mobile business: villages, community stops, care homes, weddings, private functions, galas, Highland Games and charity events.
The shop chapter ended. The Vincenzo's story did not.
Recognised by our community
Our work has also been recognised beyond the awards for our food. Vincenzo’s Fish & Chips was nominated as one of Alyn’s Local Heroes, recognising the contribution made to our local community.
Our fundraising for Strathcarron Hospice was recognised with a Hospice Hero certificate after we raised £1,324.19 for the hospice.
For Vincenzo and Giuliana, these recognitions belong just as much to the customers and communities who supported the fundraising as they do to us.
The charity boxes kept travelling with us
Moving from the shop to the van did not mean leaving our charity work behind. Two full collection boxes for Stirling & District Women's Aid were handed over and replaced with fresh boxes so the fundraising could continue. We also continued supporting other local causes, including HSTAR Scotland.
We have always preferred generosity to tips: when customers want to leave something extra, helping a charity means far more to us.
Vincenzo, Giuliana & the little black van
Today we travel across Central Scotland bringing freshly cooked fish & chips directly to the communities that support us. We cook to order, we serve the last customer in the queue, and we remain proud to be a small family business with a very big community around it.
Our Cowie premises are our private operational base only. They are not a shop and are not open to the public.
Three awards • One little black van
The road ahead.
Awards are wonderful. Television is exciting. But the best part of this story is still seeing familiar faces waiting for us when the little black van arrives.
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