The Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association is a group of

pork pie A pork pie is a traditional English meat pie, usually served either at room temperature or cold (although often served hot in Yorkshire). It consists of a filling of roughly chopped pork and pork fat, surrounded by a layer of jellied pork stock ...

manufacturers in the

Melton Mowbray Melton Mowbray () is a town in Leicestershire, England, north-east of Leicester, and south-east of Nottingham. It lies on the River Eye, known below Melton as the Wreake. The town had a population 27,670 in 2019. The town is sometimes promo ...

area of

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, UK. The association was set up in 1998 with the aim of helping to protect the

Melton Mowbray pork pie A pork pie is a traditional English meat pie, usually served either at room temperature or cold (although often served hot in Yorkshire). It consists of a filling of roughly chopped pork and pork fat, surrounded by a layer of jellied pork stock ...

recipe.

Product protection under the EU

In 1999 the association, a group of seven local manufacturers, applied to the EU to have their products categorised as having Protected Geographical Indication, to ensure that only pies made in an area around Melton Mowbray could use the Melton Mowbray name. Northern Foods, a large food corporation, tried to prevent this move over the usage of "Melton Mowbray" on the wrappings of its own pork pies. Northern Foods viewed the situation as unfair and stated in press releases that the MMPPA's dominant member,

Samworth Brothers Samworth Brothers is a British food manufacturer which produces a range of chilled and ambient foods, both own-label and branded. It is the owner of Cornish pasty maker Ginsters and malt loaf manufacturer Soreen, and is also known as a make ...

, has made cured and uncured pork pies in Leicester and that the designation area was shaped to include the Samworth factory there. According to Northern Foods, 99% of the pork pies made under the association banner are made by Samworth Brothers. Northern Foods took the matter to the European Court of Justice, but the appeal was eventually withdrawn. Northern Foods' move against the new requirements was dismissed by the High Court. The PGI application was finally granted on 4 April 2008 and the PGI status came into effect in July 2009. The name Melton Mowbray can now only be applied to uncured pork-filled pies cooked without supporting hoops and made within a 10.8 square mile (28 square kilometre) zone around the town. Permissible ingredients are fresh pork (pies must be at least 30% meat), shortening (usually lard), pork gelatine or stock, wheat flour, water, salt and spices (predominantly pepper). Artificial colours, flavours and preservatives are not allowed. Prior to PGI status coming into effect, Pork Farms (which had taken over Northern Foods' pork pie interests) announced that their Bowyers factory at Trowbridge in Wiltshire would close with the loss of 400 jobs. Production of the (mainly Melton Mowbray branded) pies was transferred to Nottingham, which is inside the area in which Melton Mowbray pies can be made under the PGI rules.

Members

Members argue that the association provides protection for smaller producers. Current members are: * Mrs King's Pork Pies of Cotgrave * F Bailey & Son of Upper Broughton * Dickinson & Morris of

* Brocklebys of

* Mark Patrick Butchers of Birstall * Walker & Son of Beaumont Leys * Leesons Butchers of

Oakham Oakham is the county town of Rutland in the East Midlands of England, east of Leicester, south-east of Nottingham and west of Peterborough. It had a population of 10,922 in the 2011 census, estimated at 11,191 in 2019. Oakham is to the west o ...

* Nelsons Family Butchers of

Stamford, Lincolnshire Stamford is a town and civil parish in the South Kesteven District of Lincolnshire, England. The population at the 2011 census was 19,701 and estimated at 20,645 in 2019. The town has 17th- and 18th-century stone buildings, older timber-framed ...

* Dunkleys of

Wellingborough Wellingborough ( ) is a large market and commuter town in the unitary authority area of North Northamptonshire in the ceremonial county of Northamptonshire, England, 65 miles from London and from Northampton on the north side of the River Nen ...

* Hartland Pies of Cotgrave

References

{{reflist

External links

Website

News items

* [https://www.meltontimes.co.uk/lifestyle/food-and-drink/meltons-iconic-pork-pie-shop-set-reopen-2871212/ Melton’s iconic pork pie shop set to reopen after coronavirus restrictions were lifted (Melton Times) June 2020]
Boris Johnson pork pie claims dismissed as ‘not true’ by Melton Mowbray (i News) August 2019

''Today'' programme (BBC News) April 2009

EU Status granted (BBC News) October 2008

Nelsons in Stamford provides pork pies for the Queen (BBC News) December 2007

Northern Foods drops pie challenge (BBC News) November 2006

European Court of Appeal (BBC News) March 2006

Northern Foods battles over its Trowbridge and Market Drayton pork pie factories (BBC News) January 2006

Wanting pork pies protected (BBC News) July 2004

Andrew Murrison complains (BBC News) June 2004

Pork pies (BBC News) March 2003
Meat processing in the United Kingdom Organizations established in 1998 Organisations based in Leicestershire Food industry trade groups based in the United Kingdom Melton Mowbray 1998 establishments in England Meat industry organizations

Product protection under the EU

Members

See also

References

External links

News items