Pie in the sky ambitions for Doncaster firm
DONCASTER’s upper crust family-run pie maker the Topping Pie Company will be trying to impress Cypriates with its popular produce.
The firm has been selected by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to attend a market visit and trade fair in the country’s capital Nicosia as part of a ‘Taste of Britain’ promotional campaign.
Topping Pie Company along with other specially selected UK firm will be given an opportunity to meet with Cyprus’ leading importers, retailers and distributors.
Unlike the rest of Europe, Cyprus has showed economic growth during the first quarter of 2009 and has some of the lowest unemployment rates and highest standards of living within the EU.
Commenting on the trip, Roger Topping, managing director of The Topping Pie Company said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to promote our traditional British pies to an overseas market where UK goods are in high demand by 700,000 locals, 80,000 of whom are ex-patriots.
“The trip, which also offers a gateway to Greece and the Middle East, will help us to tap into opportunities within the 10,000 strong Cypriot student community, who study in the UK every year and take their new found tastes for British food back home, as well as the multi-million British tourist industry.”
The Topping Pie Company has already benefited from the UKTI’s Passport to Export programme, which helps SMEs realise their international potential by offering fledgling exporters help with devising export strategies, support in visiting potential markets and improving international communication.
The programme puts together in one simple responsive process all the tools the exporting companies need to grow their business.
The firm was launched in 1989 by Roger and Maggie Topping after they took over the family butchery business.
In 1991, they started making traditional home-made pies using their own recipes and natural ingredients to sell in the shop.
Today, the multi-award winning business employs 50 staff and boasts customers such as Co-op, Booths, Fenwicks of Newcastle, Asda and P&O Shipping Lines.
