From butchers to bakers
Our story, slice by slice.
From Bill Topping's first butcher's shop to Maggie's original recipes and today's multi-award-winning bakery, explore the moments that shaped Toppings Pies.
Where it began
From butchers to bakers (but no candlestick makers!)
When Bill Topping opened his butcher’s shop in a little suburb of Doncaster, South Yorkshire in 1961 little did he know that it was the start of a multi award-winning company whose products would one day grace the deli counters at Selfridges, Harrods and Booths.
More about 1961
The Scawsby butchers shop was moved to the Doncaster Market Hall a decade later to meet customer demands and today remains a family affair with Bill’s grandson Mark managing the shop for more than 20 years and continuing the family tradition.
The pie’s the limit
The pie’s the limit for mum Maggie
Bill hung up his butchers apron in 1989 handing the baton to son Roger alongside his wife Maggie who took over the butchery firm – but it was Maggie’s talent and passion for home baking that was to change the shape of the business. In 1991 Maggie took some of her family’s favourite original home-made pies made to her own recipes to sell in the butcher’s shop.
More about 1989 / 1991
The reputation of the tasty traditional Topping pies, some inspired by historical recipes dating back to Victorian and Tudor times, quickly spread and within two years Maggie and Roger had set up a separate bakery division and moved to bigger premises to keep pace with customer appetite for family-inspired products.
Trophy cabinet
Trophy cabinet groans under the strain…
Making top quality British pies and quiche is at the heart of the company and the Topping family continue to source and use only the very best locally sourced British Farm Assured pork meat and ingredients. By 1997 the company continued to enjoy its reputation for fantastic home made pies and picked up a number of awards – the trophy cabinet is now groaning under the strain of housing more than 60 awards!
More about 1997 / 2000
By 2000 the company had once again outgrown its premises and The Topping Pie Company was officially born when Roger and Maggie bought a new bakery.
A slice of the business
Son gets a slice of the business in sales
In 2010 Roger’s youngest son Matthew was brought into the bakery, moving from menswear sales to the independent sector to sell pies. Since joining Matthew has worked alongside dad Roger and rolled up his baking sleeves in all aspects of the business, moving the Topping brand forwards.
Pre-pack range
Boxing Clever
Topping pies have been enjoyed on deli counters up and down the country for many years and Matthew boxed clever with the introduction of a new pre-pack range of speciality pies in 2011 to appeal to new customers.
Doncaster and Sheffield stands
Shopping centre pie shops
Shoppers in the hub of Doncaster’s town centre at the Frenchgate Shopping Centre are now tucking into Topping pies since the stand opened in November 2011. Sheffield now has a slice of the action with most recent stand opening in the Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre.
Growing slice by slice
Growing slice by slice
The Topping Pie Company has now transformed from a small family butchers to a multi-award winning speciality pie business supplying a wide range of handcrafted products to retail, independent, wholesale and export customers – but it still retains its traditional family roots and the original butchers shop.
Why choose Toppings Pies?
Family run business
Traditional family butchers and baking business
Made using the best quality ingredients
Quality Assured Products
Premium quality British pies
Made to Maggie’s original homemade family recipes
Award winning
we’ve won more than 100 Awards and over 60 Great Taste Awards
Upper crust guest
Find Toppings Pies near you.
Use the stockist finder to see where Toppings Pies are available locally.
