Top Pie-Maker Rejects Mass Production Route Of Expansion

Burbush’s of Penrith have pledged to stay loyal to their traditional customers despite the family-run pie-making business starting to expand after winning its first Three Gold Star accolade at the Great Taste Awards.

Publicity on TV, radio and in the written media has stimulated interest in Burbush’s hand-made products since the Cumbrian firm became the only pie-makers in England or Scotland to receive the highest award at the fine food industry’s Oscars.

The success of its award-winning 900g duck, honey and marmalade hot crust pie has led to an increase in orders from up-market delis, farm shops and country houses in response to demand from shoppers.

Director Martyn Reynolds, who runs Burbush’s team of six, said: “All our staff believe we are the best pie-makers in Britain but it is fantastic now to be able to officially say that we bake the best pies in England or Scotland. In fact, no one bakes a better pie than us in the whole of the UK, judging by the Great Taste Awards.

“We only use the finest ingredients we can get our hands on – and most of it is locally sourced in Cumbria so we know the producers personally and know exactly what is going into our pies. That is why they taste so good.”

But Martyn, who took over Burbush’s three years ago, stressed that there would be no lowering of standards of the products or service as the company gears up for more business on the strength of its growing reputation.

The former policeman and ex-Royal Navy weapons engineer added: “Success won’t change the way we operate or the ethos behind our business. We will be staying true to our customers. We find that they do not want anything to do with mass-production. More and more of them are coming to us to get away from that.

“I would rather take on more staff, even with the increased costs involved and do more of what we do rather than go down the machinery route. That way we also do something positive for our local economy here in Cumbria.

“It is all about the size and scale of the operation. If customers ring us here, they get straight through to me or my wife Melanie who run the business, not an endless sequence of recorded voices and muzak. They don’t get lost in the mass-production system where it is all about account numbers rather than a person with a name. It’s that personal touch in customer care and the product itself that some other competitors have lost.”

Burbush’s was one of only 72 food or drink products in the UK to receive a Three Star Gold status in the 2008 annual awards organised by the Guild of Fine Food. The only other pie-maker in the UK to receive a Three Star Gold award was Harvies in North Wales for its pork, prune and calvados organic pie and its rhubarb and custard pie.

Over the last five years, the awards have generated more than £2.6 million worth of additional sales in total for the previous winners combined.

Burbush’s supplies its products by order to delis, farm shops, quality butchers and other high-class retail outlets all over the country, delivering by van or post using frozen packs.

The company makes 17 different hot crust pies, suitable for cold cutting. It also produces 12 varieties of shortcrust pies as well as fruit pies, pates, terrines and hams. All the pies have handmade pastry and fillings and most range from single portions at 150 grams to catering size 2,475 grams.

For more information, contact Burbush’s at info@burbushs.co.uk or go to www.burbushs.co.uk or call 01768 863841.