Tucked away amongst the industrial parks and railroad tracks making up Broadway Street just inside the Cheektowaga border, sits The English Pork Pie Company, literally the best British shop in the world. The small but growing company has made quite a name for itself, making authentic British and European meat pies. Customers range from British expats living in Buffalo to TV crews working in California, to Australians looking for authentic meat pies. The three year operation has achieved quite a lot in a short time, thanks to the hard work and long hours put-in by husband and wife owners Damian and Vicky Parker.
The Parkers didn't start out making meat pies. In fact, the English transplants held office jobs in some of the biggest companies in England, and were making a decent living. The 9 to 5 office life didn't suit Damian, and he began to think of ways to get into something else. Meat pies are a staple overseas, but no one was making them in the United States, and the idea was born.
Damian had some experience making meat pies, but needed to come up with recipes. "We spent pretty much a year touring England and going to all of the famous pie companies," Damian says. "We got as many recipes as we could, and brought them over here to the U.S." Vicky's parents had already come to Buffalo, due to her father's work, and they soon followed. It was a risky endeavor, to say the least, and not without naysayers. "It was an absolutely massive gamble," Damian says, his calm demeanor and quiet English accent belying the risk of their move. "We sold everything we owned. No one thought it would work. No one could see the concept." Damian and Vicky stuck with their plan. "We knew it would work. I mean, we hoped it would work," Damian says with a nervous laugh.
Originally starting in a 700-square-foot building in West Seneca, the business quickly outgrew it, especially after winning two significant awards. In February 2010, they won best British shop in America and in April 2010, they won best British shop in the world. "We're competing against thousands of shops all over Europe," Damian says humbly, "and we win best British shop in the world from our little 700-square-foot shop in West Seneca." The exposure from winning the award, sponsored by British Airways and The Telegraph newspaper, led to a spike in business, and they moved to their current location on Broadway Street in Cheektowaga. They've already outgrown the space. "We've put together a new production line, and this factory's not big enough to connect it all together," Damian says, referring to a new 120 foot production line that will produce two pies a second. "We're looking to move as soon as we can."
The business hasn't grown without headaches. Because they are self financed, they're unable to get credit, which means they can't finance equipment, get credit cards, or even cell phones. "Everything we do, we do the old fashioned way by making pies, saving up and buying stuff," Damian says. They also put in long hours at the factory, routinely working 16 hour days, seven days a week. Still, Vicky says, she enjoys the perks of owning the business. "You get to set your own hours," she says. "As long as they're long hours," Damian says, laughing. They'd eventually like to get to the point where they can take a few days off, or even go on vacation, especially with their first child on the way.
The hard work continues to pay-off, as they've recently made a deal with Wegmans to sell meat pies in the Buffalo area. They're also looking at servicing a British supermarket in the Virgin Islands, as well as a possible deal with Publix Supermarkets in the south. They hope to get involved with selling the pies at local Celtic festivals, as well as events in the city like Olmsted's Party in the Parks (British Invasion theme this year). They've recently supplied pies for events like the opening of the Harry Potter Theme Park at Universal Studios and to American Airlines when they launched a new line of flights to Manchester, England. "Most people in Buffalo don't know we exist," Damian says. "99 percent of our business is shipped out to California or Florida. We've done some weird stuff."
The company makes a variety of meat pies, including Steak and Ale pies, Steak and Kidney pies, Chicken Tikka pies, Irish meat pies and even vegetarian pies. Only fresh, authentic ingredients are used in the pies.
While the Parkers don't have the time to take in all of what Buffalo has to offer, they're happy to be part of the community here. "We like Buffalo, the people are very nice," Vicky says.
More information on The English Pork Pie Company can be found on their website, and their Facebook page.
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The Parkers didn't start out making meat pies. In fact, the English transplants held office jobs in some of the biggest companies in England, and were making a decent living. The 9 to 5 office life didn't suit Damian, and he began to think of ways to get into something else. Meat pies are a staple overseas, but no one was making them in the United States, and the idea was born.
Damian had some experience making meat pies, but needed to come up with recipes. "We spent pretty much a year touring England and going to all of the famous pie companies," Damian says. "We got as many recipes as we could, and brought them over here to the U.S." Vicky's parents had already come to Buffalo, due to her father's work, and they soon followed. It was a risky endeavor, to say the least, and not without naysayers. "It was an absolutely massive gamble," Damian says, his calm demeanor and quiet English accent belying the risk of their move. "We sold everything we owned. No one thought it would work. No one could see the concept." Damian and Vicky stuck with their plan. "We knew it would work. I mean, we hoped it would work," Damian says with a nervous laugh.
Originally starting in a 700-square-foot building in West Seneca, the business quickly outgrew it, especially after winning two significant awards. In February 2010, they won best British shop in America and in April 2010, they won best British shop in the world. "We're competing against thousands of shops all over Europe," Damian says humbly, "and we win best British shop in the world from our little 700-square-foot shop in West Seneca." The exposure from winning the award, sponsored by British Airways and The Telegraph newspaper, led to a spike in business, and they moved to their current location on Broadway Street in Cheektowaga. They've already outgrown the space. "We've put together a new production line, and this factory's not big enough to connect it all together," Damian says, referring to a new 120 foot production line that will produce two pies a second. "We're looking to move as soon as we can."The business hasn't grown without headaches. Because they are self financed, they're unable to get credit, which means they can't finance equipment, get credit cards, or even cell phones. "Everything we do, we do the old fashioned way by making pies, saving up and buying stuff," Damian says. They also put in long hours at the factory, routinely working 16 hour days, seven days a week. Still, Vicky says, she enjoys the perks of owning the business. "You get to set your own hours," she says. "As long as they're long hours," Damian says, laughing. They'd eventually like to get to the point where they can take a few days off, or even go on vacation, especially with their first child on the way.
The hard work continues to pay-off, as they've recently made a deal with Wegmans to sell meat pies in the Buffalo area. They're also looking at servicing a British supermarket in the Virgin Islands, as well as a possible deal with Publix Supermarkets in the south. They hope to get involved with selling the pies at local Celtic festivals, as well as events in the city like Olmsted's Party in the Parks (British Invasion theme this year). They've recently supplied pies for events like the opening of the Harry Potter Theme Park at Universal Studios and to American Airlines when they launched a new line of flights to Manchester, England. "Most people in Buffalo don't know we exist," Damian says. "99 percent of our business is shipped out to California or Florida. We've done some weird stuff."
The company makes a variety of meat pies, including Steak and Ale pies, Steak and Kidney pies, Chicken Tikka pies, Irish meat pies and even vegetarian pies. Only fresh, authentic ingredients are used in the pies.
While the Parkers don't have the time to take in all of what Buffalo has to offer, they're happy to be part of the community here. "We like Buffalo, the people are very nice," Vicky says.
More information on The English Pork Pie Company can be found on their website, and their Facebook page.
Cool! I wish them the best!