A decision a year ago – to give greater focus to their retail and foodservice channels – means the award winning pie makers are back in growth after a turbulent 2013/14.
The last 12 months have seen Pieminister invest in the development of their pie and mash restaurants, resulting in 47% year on year growth and like for like sales up 10% within their restaurant business.
Jon Simon, Pieminister founder and MD says,
“2013/2014 was a year of consolidation and investment for us which has laid solid foundations for us to grow, especially through the planned roll-out of our restaurants. Following on from the success of our nine existing stores and with our most ambitious restaurant due to open in the spring, 2015 marks the start of an exciting new era for Pieminister.”
Established in the fast casual dining sector
The development of the brand has seen Pieminister establish itself in the rapidly expanding fast, casual dining sector and the company is looking to open restaurants in some of the UK’s most vibrant cities from spring 2015 onwards. As the only national pie company to use 100% free range British meat, the emphasis continues to be on great British food and drink.
The new, extended menu includes British nibbles as well as Pieminister’s topless pies and Pot pies alongside their classic pie range. Plus a great selection of sides and seasonal salads all served with British craft beers and ciders.
Pie Pub offer
The simplicity of the pie and mash menu has also caught the attention of the licensed trade. As good quality food becomes increasingly important, their offer gives publicans a premium food solution they can simply drop into their pub. With year on year growth of 48%, Pieminister’s fully branded Pie Pub offer is now available in a growing number of venues around the country.
Collaboration
Collaboration with BrewDog in July 2014 led to the launch of two special pies for Pieminister Pie Pubs and restaurants and BrewDog’s own bars. Both continue to be best-selling pies. Similar projects with like-minded brands are already lined-up for 2015, ensuring Pieminister continues to be one of the most exciting and innovative food brands in the UK today.
Retail expansion
Autumn 2014 also saw a return to growth within the multiple retailers with increased distribution of the brand’s classic pies in Waitrose and the launch of their new Pie Pots range through Sainsbury’s and online through Ocado. This unique range of pastry-less Pots was created as a hot quick lunch solution for the workplace – an eating occasion that has long been a challenge for pie producers.
In addition to the retail expansion, a number of new products are planned for 2015, including two new Pie Pots and a completely new range of pie-based products to sell across Pieminister’s channels.
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About Pieminister
Pieminister – the creation of brothers in law Jon Simon and Tristan Hogg has been at the forefront of the pie revolution in the UK in recent years. Founded in 2003 in Tristan’s mum’s basement the company now employs over 100 people with an 18,000-square-foot production kitchen based in Bristol, where all the pies and pots are made in-house. Jon Simon had previously owned bars in London and Tristan trained as a chef working in restaurants London and Sydney. Now Jon heads up marketing, retail and events, while Tristan takes care of the kitchen and the wholesale part of the business.
Over 70,000 pies and pots are produced a week by a team of 50 skilled Pie Ministers. Pieminister uses 100% free range British meat and dairy produce and MSC Certified fish. The ranges also include Vegetarian Society Approved and gluten free products.
As well as through Pieminister’s own restaurants in London, Bristol, Cardiff, Trentham, Oxford and Manchester, the pies are sold at farmers’ markets and independent fine food retailers, pie pubs and leading music festivals. Pieminister’s pies and pastry-free Pie Pots are available in selected supermarkets nationwide.
