The traditional pie is still an indispensable British favourite, according to food and drink research consultancy CGA Strategy.
With National Pie Week in mind, the CGA Pub Food Report has quantified the size of the pub pie market for the first time, indicating that this British favourite is on the menu in 89% of pubs with Steak & Ale the most commonly listed.
The average pie costs £7.51 in a licensed outlet, with branded pies selling twice as fast as non-branded pies, often at a price premium. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is in the North that we find the biggest proportion of pie eaters, with rates of sale 15% higher than in the South.
One of the nation’s favourites
Nonetheless, pies are consistently named one of the nations’ menu favourites and their traditional association with pubs mean that they are likely to be a pub menu classic for years to come.
CGA Strategy’s Scott Elliott commented:
“With food led outlets remaining resilient and innovation being at an all-time high, menu design has never been more important. It is a brave operator that moves past the classics too quickly, although there is plenty of opportunity for unique twists and interesting options within the pie menu. Well-conceived, credibly sourced pies have a place on menus right across the price spectrum with particularly well delivered offers creating a genuine point of difference for many pubs.”
British Pie Awards 2013
Given the value of the Pie market, it makes sense to be aware of the British Pie Awards and the benefits they can bring! If you don’t enter, you don’t win: if you don’t win, you don’t get the sales benefit of all that publicity!
Make a note of the entry date: the closing date for entries is10 April 2013, judging takes place in Melton Mowbray on 24 April, and successful pie makers from each class will be invited to an all new Awards Pie Lunch on Thursday 25 April.
Check out the categories: new classes have been added to the line up including new chicken categories and a brand new ‘free from’ speciality pie class has also been launched – open to all sweet or savoury, gluten or wheat free pies. Details of all categories from British Pie Awards
About CGA
The CGA Pub Food Report has been developed by food and drink consultancy firm CGA Strategy as a precursor to the launch of a new suite of food insight services. The report findings are based on a combination of data sources, including daily sales data for over 5,000 managed pubs, over 8 years of menu analysis from a bi-annual sample of over 1,000 pubs and restaurants, and market value estimations driven by on trade data, all analysed through class-leading on trade expertise.
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