10 facts to help boost your pub’s pie sales

1) It is the food of the masses​

Three quarters (75%) of people asked by pastry firm Jus-Rol enjoy a pie at least once a month. More than 20% of those asked in the Midlands, Wales and Northern Ireland ate in excess of one pie a week.

2) British Pie Week is approaching ​

British Pie Week starts on 7 March, giving pubs the opportunity to make pie lovers a prime target by positioning this national favourite at the top of their menu.

3) Illegal to sell pies? ​

Pies were once outlawed in 1644 by Oliver Cromwell, who outlawed it as a pagan form of pleasure, Needless to say, the Brits took their passion for pie underground.

4) Healthier options too, please​

Jus-Rol’s survey claimed that 80% of those asked would consider buying a healthier pie. Mintel research showed that overall fat content and saturated fat were the biggest worries of UK adults. 44% of those asked by the research firm looked for healthier options when buying prepared meals.

5) Gluten-free​

As with many foods, the gluten-free trend has also hit the pie category, as one in 100 people in the UK are thought to be intolerant or allergic to gluten.

Pie manufacturer Oliver James Foods is proving there is demand for gluten-free pies and saw a 46% increase in sales of its variants.

6) Free-from in general​

Gluten-free pie is so popular that the winner of the British Pie Awards’ free-from category, the Biddestone Arms, near Chippenham, saw a 90% increase in the sales of its gluten-free pies.

7) Meat-free too​

Non-meat pie options will not only appeal to the estimated vegetarian, vegan and flexitarian adults in the UK, but to customers looking for what they perceive as a lighter option.

To mark the popularity of veggie pies, Pieminister has launched a recipe competition designed to find a meat-free pie that’s good enough to head its Pie Week festivities.

8) Make more money​

While there are very good quality readymade pies on offer, 89% of consumers asked by Jus-Rol would pay more for a homemade one.

9) All about the pie​

The Piebald Inn in Hunmanby, North Yorkshire, is a pie trailblazer and has a menu featuring 50 pies, with some unusual recipes thrown into the mix.

For example, there are mini versions of the Peruvian Paso – diced goat that’s marinated in lager – pie. The pub also has an all-day breakfast pie on the menu, which features black pudding, bacon and sausage.

10) Young’s 21 years of pie​

Young’s pub the Windmill in Mayfair has sold pies for the past 21 years and its award-winning steak and kidney pie takes centre stage of the menu.

On average, the pub will serve between 700 and 1,000 pies a week and has a dedicated second floor restaurant called the Pie Room, which offers pie specials and pie feasting menus.

British Pie Week starts on 7 March​