SCOTLAND’S market leading pie maker, Bells Food Group, has launched a new range of frozen bake-at-home pies. It estimates sales will be worth around £2m in the first year alone.
Lanarkshire-based Bells currently bakes around 16 million Scotch pies annually. The new range is a first for the company into the frozen category and includes three variants – the iconic Bells Scotch Pie, Macaroni Cheese Pie and new Scotch Chilli Pie. The pies are available in packs of three in Iceland stores throughout Scotland and in all Farmfoods stores across the UK.
Finance Director and third generation Bell, Samantha Murray, said: “Launching into the frozen category is a natural progression as we look to extend the reach of our products to more customers and consumers. The new range tastes great and provides excellent value for money.”
Last month Bells Food Group announced it had won a major contract to supply own-label pastry to Tesco, creating 15 additional jobs. The contract sees five and a half million packs of puff pastry selling in 862 UK-wide Tesco stores. Bells has invested heavily in the bakery to extend the premises, create additional freezing facilities and install new equipment to accommodate future growth.
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The introduction and success of Bells ‘Special’ Puff Pastry which was launched in 1955 allowed the company to expand into other savoury products such as Bells Scotch Pies, bridies, sausage rolls and Bells Steak Pies, all produced from Bells recipes dating back to the 1930s.
Fearing his son Donald would be out of work after completing an apprenticeship at a local bakery in 1931, David Bell converted the family wash-house into a small bakery and Donald started the business selling scones and pancakes in the early hours of the morning door-to-door. As the business grew Donald’s four brothers and two sisters joined.
Today Bells has annual turnover of around £26 million, employs around 220 colleagues, has 60% of the hot pie market in Scotland and operates two bakeries and a distribution centre in Shotts.
