Pieminister, the fast-growing Bristol-based pie producer, has secured a substantial four-acre site in Westbury on Trym from the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.
The north Bristol site is already home to Pieminister's kitchens, where it has been producing its widely-popular products since 2007. The deal paves the way for the company to extend its premises further in the future to support the ambitious expansion of the business.
Negotiations on the seven-figure deal began at the start of the year and completed this week, with Pieminister supported on the transaction by Justyn McIlhinney, property partner at Bristol law firm Temple Bright.
Mr McIlhinney said: “This was a complex deal, with many challenging legal and commercial aspects, but it's a great opportunity for Pieminister and one that secures the company's manufacturing base in Bristol for years to come.
“It has been inspiring to see Pieminister developing a brand that is becoming nationally renowned, and expanding its operation. This shows that a quality product at the top end of the food market can flourish even in a downturn. Pieminister is a prized client for Temple Bright as a young law firm supporting entrepreneurs on the cutting edge.”
Gonzalo Trujillo, Pieminister's director, said: “To invest in the future growth, Pieminister needs a long-term manufacturing base and this deal means we can now keep the facility and maintain our commitment to Bristol as the centre of our operations. We are expanding fast, but securing the site in Bristol means we have a site that's big enough for us to grow into for many years to come. This is wonderful news for the business, the city and for our dedicated staff here in Bristol.”
Pieminister was set up in 2003 and has eight shops across Bristol, London, Oxford and Trentham. It also sells its pies to delis, farmers' markets and supermarkets. It also has a mobile van which has become a familiar site at music festivals including Glastonbury. Turnover is around £9m currently but looks set to double over the next three years.
Temple Bright was set up in 2010 and has since expanded from three to fifteen partners. The firm has adopted an innovative “partner only” business model structured specifically to benefit entrepreneurs and owner managed businesses.
Pictured: Pieminister's founders Jon Simon and Tristan Hogg
