Member Article

Bristol pie makers prevent production move

Bristol pie-makers, Pieminister have secured a new four acre site in Westbury on Trym, following seven figure funding from HSBC Commercial Bank.

The acquisition means plans to move production to South Wales can be scrapped, safeguarding over 70 jobs in Bristol.

Pieminister currently produces over 5 million pies a year already at the 18,000 sq ft site, and now plans to double production over the next three years.

The deal was lead by HSBC Commercial Manager Marc Talbot, based at HSBC’s Bristol and Bath Commercial Centre.

Director at the Centre, Nick Stork, said: “This was a complex deal but we are pleased to have supported Pieminister’s acquisition of the site, a key transaction for the business. This is a young, ambitious company that has set its sight on significant growth and is the type of business that HSBC is keen to support.”

Gonzalo Trujillo, Pieminister Director, added: “HSBC has supported Pieminister since it was founded in 2003 and we now have a great working relationship. HSBC’s involvement in this deal was vital and we are pleased the bank has backed our long-term vision for the company and also supported the local Bristol economy.

“To invest in the future growth, Pieminister needs a long-term manufacturing base and this deal means we can now keep the facility and maintain our commitment to Bristol as the centre of our operations.

“We are expanding fast, but securing the site in Bristol means we have a site that’s big enough for us to grow into for many years to come. This is wonderful news for the business, the city and for our dedicated staff here in Bristol.”

Pieminister was founded in 2003 by Jon Simon and Tristan Hogg, and the company now operates eight shops in Bristol, London, oXFORD, Trentham and Amsterdam.

It also supplies retailers such as Harrods and Harvey Nichols, and Waitrose, as well as delis and farmers’ markets.

Turnover is around £9m a year, and Pieminister aim to at least double that over the next three years.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .