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Yes, excited to say….Our Keralan, Cauliflower, Chickpea & Onion Bhaji Pasty won at the 2025 British Pie Awards!

Our plant-based pasty really is a firm favourite and wowed the Judges as a meat-free winner in the Pasty Category, beating all comers for the top title.

As winners of the Pasty of the Year we get to visit Japan to showcase the pasty at the British Food Fair in Osaka in October.
The Fair is being held in Hankyu Department Store, the “Harrods” and “Fortnum & Mason” of Japan, with over 13 floors and 3 floors dedicated to food.

As one of Japans biggest stores they have over 50 million visitors per year – over half a million visiting the Food Fair.

So the good news is we’re off in October – the bad news is – we had better start making pasties now to cope with the demand !

Meet the people behind Phat Pasty – the pasty company that breaks new ground

The Phat Pasty Co, have been Supplier Members of The Soil Association since 2017, and were the first savoury pasty company to adopt the Food for Life standards across their products. In fact, this is one of many ‘firsts’, with Phat leading the way in so many different areas.

Founded by husband and wife team Paul and Laura Clark, who started the business from their kitchen table and a converted campervan back in 2006, the brand has grown exponentially and is now established as one of the leading UK foodservice suppliers of hand-made pasties, pies, sausage rolls and savoury treats.

Paul and Laura continue to run Phat Pasty today and we sat down with them to hear more about how they got involved with Food for Life, their commitment to British ingredients, their recent B-Corp accreditation and how they stay ahead of the crowd.

How did Phat Pasty first get involved with Food for Life?

In 2017, a large schools authority and Food For Life Scheme member approached us with a challenge – they wanted to offer sausage rolls in their primary and secondary schools, but none on the market met the Food For Life Bronze standard or aligned to the school food standards.

At Phat Pasty, we’ve always been committed to quality, using British ingredients at the heart of our products. So, we embraced the opportunity and got to work.

We haven’t looked back since! Sausage rolls are now a staple in many schools, and we’ve expanded our range to include plant-based options, such as our vegan sausage roll and Mexican bean roll (both 80g).

We’ve noticed all of your range is produced using British farm-assured meats. Why is the provenance of products so important to Phat?

It’s often difficult for consumers to know exactly where their food comes from. Some brands claim their products are British when, in reality, only a small ingredient – often not even the main one – meets that standard. Some state ‘Made in UK’ and this can cause confusion with operators and customers. We want to be open and transparent with our customers. If we say our products are British, we believe they should be truly British.

That’s why all our Phat pasties, pies, and sausage rolls are made with British farm-assured meats. This not only gives consumers confidence in the food they’re eating but also supports British farmers. But we don’t stop there. Our Traditional Cornish Pasty contains 17% beef skirt – well above the standard of 12.5% for a ‘Cornish Pasty’ – while our Seriously Cheesy Pasty is packed with West Country Cheddar, Red Leicester, and a rich, creamy béchamel sauce. We also use only free-range eggs and sustainably sourced palm oil.

We’re always looking for ways to make our products even better – full of goodness and quality ingredients.

There is a growing demand for plant-based products. How have you adapted your range?

We’ve led the way in the rise of vegan products, becoming the first to introduce a fully plant-based pasty. Our Keralan Cauliflower, Chickpea & Onion Bhaji Pasty launched over six years ago, and it’s remained a bestseller ever since.

Our plant-based and vegetarian range continues to grow, now making up 50% of our offering. More and more consumers, including those who still eat meat, are incorporating plant-based options into their diets as they look to reduce meat consumption and make more sustainable choices.

We bring the same commitment to quality and flavour to our plant-based products as we do to our meat-based range. Standout creations like our Butternut Squash, Spinach & Vegan Feta Pasty and Spicy Cauliflower Balti Pie showcase bold, delicious flavours that set us apart.

Last year we added a range of gluten free pies to our range and this also includes a Mushroom Bourguignon Pie which is vegan and suitable for coeliacs.

We are the first pasty company to earn accreditation from the Vegetarian Society’s Plant-Based Trademark – another milestone in our journey of breaking new ground.

We heard you recently became B-Corp accredited. How did you celebrate?

 By the end of the process we were exhausted. It took us and the team over 18 months to conduct a full review of everything we do, so our first thought was to lie down and take a well-earned rest! The application was rigorous, and the journey was long, but the hard work paid off. We were incredibly proud to be recognised, especially as the first Cornish pasty company to achieve B Corp™ status.

Our unwavering commitment to using British meats and natural ingredients played a key role, as did our dedication to social and environmental initiatives. Our Supplier Membership of the Soil Association further demonstrated our ethos and this certainly helped us in our submissions.

Since 2019, we’ve partnered with The Word Forest Organisation, an environmental charity that plants trees, builds classrooms, and supports education in Kenya. Thanks to our donations, nearly 25,000 fast-growing, predominantly food-bearing trees have been planted, collectively sequestering 6,094 tonnes of CO2 – helping to offset our carbon footprint and combat climate change.

We’re also giving back closer to home. During Cornish Pasty Week 2025, we’ll be supporting Devon and Cornwall Food Action, donating 5p from every pasty sold.

For us, doing the right thing – for our products, people, and the planet – has always been at the heart of what we do. Achieving B Corp™ status was the culmination of years of dedication, and we’re just getting started. One of our sayings is “Eat Well. Have Fun. Do Good.”

You are often the first to do things – how to you stay ahead of everyone else?

We’ve never been ones to follow the crowd – we set out to break new ground from day one. Whether it’s launching the first fully plant-based pasty, becoming the first Cornish pasty company to achieve B Corp™ status, or earning accreditation from the Vegetarian Society’s Plant-Based Trademark. We thrive on leading the way.

For us, innovation isn’t just about new flavours or products; it’s about pushing boundaries in quality, sustainability, and responsibility. We believe in doing things properly, making real commitments to the planet, and continuously challenging ourselves to be better. Being first isn’t the goal – doing the right thing is. But when you stay true to your values and keep striving for more, the milestones naturally follow.

Thank you, Paul and Laura! For anyone who may want to stock Plat Pasty products, the range is available nationally via the main foodservice wholesalers, with impactful point of sales materials and other support packages to assist caterers. For more information contact: phatcontroller@phatpasty.com

The Phat Way: British Food, Regional Specialities and Sustainability

Alongside a Sunday roast, a full English breakfast and a cup of tea, a Cornish pasty is up there with some of the classics of British food and drink, with at least 120million Cornish pasties made each year[1].

A Cornish pasty is special; it has a deep, historical connection with Cornwall and has Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, meaning that only pasties made in Cornwall, following traditional methods, can be officially called ‘Cornish pasties.’ This designation helps preserve the authentic recipe and production process.

A genuine Cornish pasty will have a minimum of 12.5% meat, traditionally made with beef skirt, potato, swede and onion, and have the side edge sealed by crimping. It’s these little touches that make a Cornish pasty, what it is.

Where food comes from matters

Although sourcing local produce, staying true to authentic processes and seeking the best quality ingredients can be more costly than importing cheaper alternatives, the benefits of investing in British produce has far-reaching benefits; benefits that The Phat Pasty Company think are incredibly important.

• Supporting The Local Economy: Purchasing British meat and ingredients supports local farmers, producers, and businesses, boosting the local economy, creating jobs, and sustaining rural communities.

• Traceability, Food Safety & Animal Welfare: When using local ingredients, it can be easier to trace their origin and ensure they meet specific safety and quality standards. The UK also has stringent animal welfare laws, including the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which ensures that animals are provided with a suitable living environment, proper food and water, and are protected from harm and suffering.
• Sustainability: Local sourcing often reduces the carbon footprint associated with transporting goods over long distances. British produce might be grown or raised with practices that align with local environmental standards, which can be more sustainable compared to importing from abroad.

British farmers, sustainability, planet and communities at the core

For Phat, the very essence and heart of their business is rooted in creating artisan, quality products with British at the centre of what they do.

Paul Clark, Phat Controller at Phat Pasty, commented: “From when we started in 2006 (with my wife Laura and I at our kitchen table and a converted campervan), to now where we partner with the leading wholesalers to supply the foodservice sector on a national scale – from universities, healthcare, pubs, restaurants, leisure sites, tourist attractions and stadia – we’ve not wavered from our commitment to British ingredients. We knew from the beginning we wanted to offer premium, quality products; and a big part of that was sourcing British where we can.

“It’s very tricky for consumers to know where the food they are eating is from. Brands can claim their products are British when, in reality, it’s just one small ingredient that is British – and often it’s not always the main ingredient. The provenance of products is important, and all of our pasties, pies and sausage rolls use British farm assured meats.

“Not only this but we produce products that are of the highest quality and have a point of difference to the competition. Our Phat Traditional Cornish pasty not only features British farm assured steak, but is made with 17% vs the standard 12.5% meat contents. Our Seriously Cheesy pasty is not just a Cheese & Onion pasty, but contains West Country Cheddar, Red Leicester and has a creamy béchamel sauce. We also offer more artisan, deli-style products, such as Chunky Sausage Rolls, with a higher British pork content. Offering quality British meat not only reassures consumers on where their food is coming from but supports farmers too.

“We want to help preserve traditional British recipes and culinary practices, which are important for maintaining cultural heritage and regional specialties. We offer true Cornish pasties, made in Cornwall, and pies made in Spalding – both areas synonymous with the heritage of the product.”

As a result of maintaining and championing quality, Phat is a multi-award-winning brand at the World Pasty Championships, Taste of The West and British Pie Awards, over a number of years.

Explaining how they have diversified their offering, Paul Clark shares: “When we introduced pies into our range we knew that we had to stick to our principles and mirror what we had achieved with our pasties and sausage rolls. We decided to offer all of the British favourite flavours such as Steak and Cornish Ale, Chicken Bacon and Mushroom, and Lamb Rosemary & Garlic Potato, with great tasting vegetarian and vegan options, such as Sweet Potato, Spinach & Goats Cheese and a Spicy Cauliflower Balti Pie.

“During 2024, we expanded the range into gluten free and plant-based options, such as Mushroom Bourguignon pie, covering all of the dietary and lifestyle choices. We have forged the way in the growth of vegan products and were the first to introduce a vegan, plant-based pasty. Our Keralan, Cauliflower, Chickpea & Onion Bhaji Pasty was launched over four years ago and has continued to be a best seller.”

British Food Fortnight – Food Hero

Since conception, Phat Pasty has remained unrelentingly committed to using British meats and natural ingredients. Already a Soil Association Food for Life Supplier, this year (2024) Phat Pasty also became a Food Hero, supporting Love British Food and British Food Fortnight, which takes place from 20 September-6^th October 2024.

A national campaign, British Food Fortnight celebrates the country’s food and drink industry, highlights the diversity and quality of British produce and encourages people to support local farmers, producers, and food businesses.

During the two-week period, Phat Pasty is supporting their customers such as Welcome Break, Red Funnel Ferries and Butlins holiday parks with branding, POS and bunting, highlighting the British meat and ingredients in their award-winning traditional Cornish Pasties and Jumbo Sausage Rolls. Many smaller independent customers are also using these materials on their hot cabinets and counters to help customers see their support of British Food Fortnight in selling the Phat ranges.

Versatility shouldn’t compromise quality

Paul Clark, concludes: “Pies, pasties and savoury treats are incredibly versatile. They can be grabbed as a quick handheld snack on a work lunch break, feature as the main dish on a plate or offer customers an easy-to-eat, on-the-go snack.

“Served in cafes, restaurants, theme park kiosks, travel & leisure and sports & events, the pasty is a perfect food offer. For the caterer they offer a recognisable and profitable option. Delivered frozen, they can be simply baked-off and sold direct from a hotplate or heated cabinet. This means that virtually any member of staff can prepare them with relative ease, and consumers are offered the same quality serve each and every time.

“But just because they are so versatile and accessible, doesn’t mean the quality should be compromised. Don’t be fooled by its humble appearance; if it’s stuffed full of goodness, a pie or pasty holds its own against any lunch or dinner item on the menu.”

Serving Phat pasties or pies represents selling a quality, authentic and truly British favourite to customers. Phat support with branding, marketing materials and items such as branded equipment, bags and point of sale. Many customers finding that selling a quality Phat product increases sales, customer satisfaction and supports their own standards, business ethos and CSR goals within their operations and business.

Supplied via both national and regional foodservice wholesalers, The Phat Pasty ranges are now readily available to buy and sell across the UK.

For further information on Phat Pasty please contact the phatcontroller@phatpasty.com or visit www.phatpasty.com

[1] The Cornish Pasty Association

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It’s now becoming the norm to find people asking for Gluten Free options and we have finally cracked it!

The key for us was to find a gluten free option that tasted as good as our standard, Premium Pies –

We were out and about with our Phat Team in a local Pub and found the perfect Pie – it was so good that when it came to the table we actually thought they had sent the wrong pie! – They went on to explain that they had ”moved all of their pies to gluten free as customers ‘just couldn’t tell’ and it gave them options that everybody could enjoy’

Tracking down the local supplier, we have partnered with them to bring a range of 3 large Gluten Free Pies and 3 Mini Gluten Free Pies to the Foodservice market…Now available in both Bidfood and Brakes.

All of the pies are produced, tested and accredited for a coeliac diet – we also insisted on British Farm Assured meats and a fabulous plant-based option.

The Gluten Free range now just slots in to our range and gives even more options for customers to enjoy..

What a year we are having ! – Yes 9 Awards at the 2024 British Pie Awards, including ‘Runner Up’ and Reserve Champion in 3 separate categories.

Our Traditional Cornish Pasty came up trumps winning Gold for the 3rd Year running in the Pasty Category.

We were also delighted that our brand NEW Gluten Free Wild Board, Apple & Cider Pie that will be coming in September was Runner up in both Gluten Free and the Game Pie Categories.

With a Gold, 3 Silvers and 5 Bronze Awards, we went home happy.

Overall there were over 900 pies entered and the finalists were all together in St Marys Church for a celebration lunch and the handing out of prizes. The Phat team were there with Andrew and Yvonne, both coming along to enjoy the award ceremony and get a ‘flavour of the Pie Awards’ !