Restaurants and gastropubs help British pie sales hit 30 year high

The humble pie, one of Britain's greatest culinary inventions, is making a major comeback with sales at a 30 year high after restaurants and gastropubs continue to add it to menus.

In the last two years sales across all UK retailers have soared by 16% (AC Nielsen data) which equates to 17 million pies – a big jump considering it is a mature market. The total UK pie market across all retailers is currently worth £229 million.

Tesco pie buyer Andrew Mossop said: "Pies have won their way back into the hearts of British diners and gained a new respectability because of better ingredients, wider choices and healthier options.

"The tough, fatty beef or chicken in unappetising, gloopy gravy has gone and has been replaced by far better quality tender meat, finer vegetables and sauces and more delicate pastry.

"While they were once thought of as merely a snack they are now being eaten as part of a balanced core meal alongside vegetables such as carrots, broccoli or potatoes.

The pie revival has been helped by them appearing on the menus of top restaurants and they are also standard fare at gastropubs across the UK.

Traditionally the three main British savoury pies were steak and kidney, beef and onion, and chicken and mushroom. 

But figures show an increase in the varieties to choose from including steak and ale, chicken and bacon, Aberdeen Angus minced steak, chicken and Wiltshire ham, lamb and mint and vegetarian options.

Words: Clare Riley

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