Member Article

Yorkshire pie firm sets its sights on Polish expansion

Yorkshire bakery The Topping Pie Company has set its sights on Poland as a potential export market.

The firm is one of 20 British food and drink producers pitching its products in Poland.

The Topping Pie Company has taken part in the Taste of Britain market entry programme, an initiative by the British Polish Chamber of Commerce to open opportunities in Eastern Europe.

The premium pie business, run by the Topping family, produces handcrafted pies and quiches at its Doncaster bakery using prime British Red Tractor pork.

According the HMRC, Poland is the 2nd fastest growing export market in the EU, top 10 for British food and drink products and 11th largest worldwide.

With 39m people, Poland is the largest CEE country and gateway to 100m+ consumers amongst the new EU entrants.

Matthew Topping, sales director, The Topping Pie Company said: “Our pies went down very well in Poland with great enthusiasm from buyers and distributors alike. We’ve already had initial interest from independent chains; Tesco in Poland and a few distributors in our cold cutting pies and our hot speciality pies and quiche.

“We see opportunities for our pies in this market, not only supplying Brits abroad with a taste of home, but also introducing Polish consumers to premium pies from Britain.

“With more than 1 million Poles migrating to Britain in the last 10 years, they and their families are constantly travelling between the two countries and this is driving interest in British products and new tastes.”

Marek Schejbal, senior consultant with the British Polish Chamber of Commerce said: “Topping pies were the big hit of the entire event and I believe will be attractive for a variety of distribution channels.

“Market entry for food and drink companies requires more than simply arranging trade meetings. Taking a longer term view with products and pricing will lead to great rewards.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .