Export success for pork pie producer
Doncaster-based The Topping Pie Company hoped to capitalise on the ex-pat market looking for a taste of home.
Topping is working in partnership with food exporter Smylie, which specialises in sourcing and distributing British food and drink for the export market.
The partnership will see the pork pie producer’s range of pastries stocked in stores across the country. Popular pie lines included: Dinky topped cranberry, cheese and pickle and stilton varieties.
Md Roger Topping said: “New Zealand is a popular destination for British ex pats and we know they crave a little taste of home.
‘Slice of Britain’
“We are delighted to be able to deliver a slice of Britain with the support of Smylie’s dedicated team of experts.”
While Topping hoped to export more of their pies, Roger said it could be limited to markets where there are British consumers.
The order to New Zealand followed a recent export deal with the Co-operative Society in the Channel Islands.
Smylie international sales manager Henry Elsby said: “We are pleased to be working with The Topping Pie Company to export its premium quality pork pies into New Zealand.
“The premium quality pies are going down well with ex-pats and Kiwis alike and now they have a taste for Toppings, we are planning to target other retailers and additional channels, including food service.”
‘Target other retailers’
Toppings produces hand-made pies that are sold in stores across the UK, including Selfridges and upmarket supermarket chain Booths.
Its New Zealand export could tap into a market worth an extra £293M a year to the UK economy, according to the government’s International Action Plan for Food and Drink last October.
However, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said there was still “massive untapped potential” for food and drink exports, after overseas sales topped £20bn for the first time last year.
FDF director general Ian Wright called for more government help to unlock the full potential of export markets.
