Franchising details
Inspired by pie shops frequented whilst travelling in Australia, Jon Simon and Tristan Hogg decided they wanted to revive the once-great British pie on their return home to the UK.
So, in 2003 the two brothers-in-law opened a small pie shop and kitchen on Stokes Croft in Bristol and Pieminister was born.
They soon gained a great reputation for making delicious pies and helped revolutionise a flagging pie industry with exciting recipes: responsibly sourced quality ingredients, innovative branding, and a knack for making exceptionally delicious pastry.
Pieminister has been making pies in Bristol ever since. A local, family business (both their sisters work for the business too), their ingredients are selected for their sustainability credentials, quality and taste.
Every pie in Pieminister’s classic range is a Great Taste Award winner, including the legendary Moo (British beef steak & craft ale), Free Ranger (free range British chicken & ham with thyme) and Heidi (Somerset Goats’ cheese, sweet potato, spinach & red onion).
There are more than a dozen classic pies now, including a growing number of plant-based recipes which are registered with the Vegan Society and carry the trusted Vegan trademark.
Additionally, the brand has a growing range of gluten free pies certified by Coeliac UK, which triumphed in the Great Taste and British Pie Awards, with judges remarking that Pieminister’s gluten free pastry was the best they’d ever tasted.
In 2019, Pieminister launched a range of patties; pocket-sized pastry snacks designed to be eaten on the go. Encased in a golden saffron pastry, the range of three includes two plant-based recipes.
As well as running 17 pie restaurants and cafes across the UK, Pieminister also supply many of the UK’s finest pubs, food retailers and markets including a pie stall at London’s world-famous Borough Market.
In 2020, Pieminister’s focus turned to a series of ambitious sustainability goals to hit by 2025, covering three key areas: animal & ecological welfare, climate change & waste, and human welfare & wellbeing. They have been aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals; the UN’s blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
Franchise costs and details
Training and support
Together, Pieminister and its retained franchise consultant Seeds Consulting will assist prospective franchisees, sharing property contacts and their experience in location selection and lease acquisition. Franchisees will also benefit from a business plan template, and both parties will act as sounding board to ensure the plan is as accurate as possible based on their experience.
Pieminister have arranged for their franchise to be accredited with high street banks, ensuring franchisee applications have a higher success rate and a fast turnaround.
Pieminister will design and project manage each franchise location internally, reducing reliance and extra costs in connection with external suppliers.
The initial support package extends to an eleven-day training programme at a Pieminister restaurant or café, and a five-day ‘on-the-job’ handover at the franchisee’s location.
Franchisees will also receive all business manuals and uniform, as well as FREE pies to assist during the early stages.
Once the new store has commenced trading, Pieminister will visit regularly to ensure the business is operating to the highest standard and franchisees will benefit from their support team of operational and marketing support to help re-train if necessary.
The menu is rotated on a quarterly basis, with consistent research and innovation in the form of new pies, recipe and menu development.
Pieminister’s role will be to manage all the supply chain and supplier accounts to drive prices down for both product and services.
Pieminister will also manage all national PR activity, social media channels and the Pieminister.co.uk website, all whilst providing support to any localised marketing and PR activity undertaken by its franchisees.
