British pie company Pieminister has partnered with plant-based meat brand THIS to develop a new product, the sausage roll-shaped Banger & Bean Handy Pie.
Designed to be eaten on the go, the pie contains THIS™ Isn’t Pork sausages, haricot and cannellini beans, and smoky tomato sauce, all encased in flaky pastry. It takes 15 minutes or less to heat up, and can also be eaten cold. Unlike many competitors, the pie is said to have generous quantities of filling, with no “dreaded air pocket”.
The new launch follows the success of Pieminister’s previous collaboration with THIS; last year, the companies co-developed the THIS Isn’t a Chicken and Bacon Pie, featuring plant-based meat in a smoky, creamy sauce.
Like THIS, Pieminister is a certified B Corp, meeting high environmental and social standards. The company’s pies are made with deforestation-free ingredients and feature 100% recyclable and plastic-free packaging. The Pieminister bakery in Bristol is powered by green energy, and surplus pies are donated to food charities.
“The best out there”
The new launch comes just weeks after THIS launched a new plant-based chicken product, THIS Isn’t Chicken Shawarma pieces. The company also recently appointed a new CEO, Mark Cuddigan, after co-founders Andy Shovel and Pete Sharman stepped down as co-CEOs.
According to Cuddigan, THIS is on an “impressive growth trajectory”; in 2023, Alantra figures showed that the company was the UK’s fastest-growing food brand.
“Following on from the success of our THIS™ Isn’t A Chicken & Bacon Pie, which launched last year, it was just a matter of time before we collaborated with THIS again,” said Jon Simon, Pieminister co-founder and MD. “Their plant-based sausages are the best out there. Put them together with beans and a rich, smoky tomato sauce and you have a winning pie filling!”
The new pie is now available at Ocado, and will launch at Tesco from mid-May.
