THE UK’s number one pork pie brand has invested £4m in its latest project, which has seen new machinery, jobs and the launch of a new addition to the portfolio – scotch eggs.

Expected to increase the company’s annual sales to £32m, the scotch eggs are initially launching in a twin pack format, with further pack sizes to follow.

Scotch eggs, which saw a resurgence in popularity following the government’s somewhat controversial declaration in 2020 that they could be considered a ‘substantial meal’ in line with Covid regulations, is a product category that has grown £8.1m in the 52 weeks ending September 5, 2021, according to Kantar data. In fact, shoppers spent an extra £91.5m on the savoury pastry and meats category in the last 12 months, making this a tasty move for Vale of Mowbray.

Mark Gatenby, Managing Director at Vale of Mowbray said: “While the pork pie will always be a staple, and our flagship product, we’re proud to be harnessing our skills within the savoury pastry category to expand into new products.”

Based at Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire, Vale of Mowbray employs over 200 people and currently has live vacancies for permanent staff members. Details can be found at valeofmowbray.co.uk.

Marketing Manager, Jason Crowe said: “The humble scotch egg is being seen as more than just a grab-and-go snack, and this project has led to 30 new roles being created.”