A Tenbury Wells pie company is hoping to serve up an extra slice of success after being named as a finalist in a national awards ceremony for the second year running.
The Wyre Pie Company was announced as winner of the Best Added Value Game Product or Innovation category at last year’s Eat Game Awards for its venison pie.
And the company is through to the final round of the competition once again, as one of three finalists in the category, with the results set to be announced at this year’s Eat Game Awards ceremony on 23 March in London.
With over forty years of master butchery behind him, Wyre Pie Company founder Peter Edwards began making his own pies from a five-star hygiene rated garden shed in 2014.
Helped by his partner Debi Reeves, the company grew rapidly and now operates from a 4,000 square foot unit and retail shop with twelve employees.
Fellow director Steve Powell, who joined the Wyre Pie Company in 2020, said the company’s core belief is to offer “the best quality for the most affordable price”.
He said: “After last year’s success, we felt it was important to continue offering value for money in our business.
“This was made even more apparent with the cost-of-living crisis hitting us all. Value has become our core belief as a business. With this in mind, we felt that this year we should continue to educate our customers about game meat and encourage them to try it and to help with this, we launched a range of simple everyday recipe ideas where more traditional meats such as chicken, lamb or beef are replaced with healthier, more sustainable, and more cost-effective game meat alternatives.
“Simply using Venison in an everyday curry or cottage pie or pheasant in simple meatballs or burgers makes a big difference.
“We have continued to showcase our products and recipe ideas on open tasting days – inviting local schools as well as local MPs to come along and try something new.
“We are delighted to be in the final once again. We again feel that game should still be the true winner but feel strongly that it is our responsibility to showcase what is available to everyone and to educate people about the benefits.”
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the launch of the Eat Game Awards. All entries were nominated via the website, before the public voted on each category, whittling down the nominees to those who made it to the final.
The Eat Game Awards is a celebration of wild British produce. Eight categories make up the awards, which recognise the achievements of champions of game including chefs, producers and retailers.
The awards aim to raise the profile of game meat and reward the passion, innovation, and success of those working with wild game.
Annette Woolcock, Eat Game Awards co-ordinator and BASC’s head of wild food, said: “The Eat Game Awards are a showcase for everything that’s brilliant about British game meat.
“They are a tremendous way of recognising local businesses, new talent and those who have spent years, or even decades, spreading the word about wild game meat through their work.
“Our list of finalists this year is mix of brand-new names, with some previous winners too. We have the best of the best in game butchers, chefs, restaurants, retailers, artisan producers, educators and influencers all waiting to be judged. It is a huge achievement to reach the final, good luck to all of them on the night.”
