Fray Bentos makes a canny move with vegetarian pie

FRAY BENTOS has launched its first ever vegetarian pie in response to demand from customers.

The tinned pie company, founded in 1881 and renowned for its meat fillings, announced that it would be introducing a Vegetable Balti to satisfy the market.

It comes after Greggs introduced a vegan sausage roll earlier this year.

However, for Fray Bentos, which takes its names from the port in Uruguay where it was originally produced, it is a landmark departure from its carnivore-only territory.

Its range of pies, which are made at their factory in Fochabers, Moray, Scotland, currently includes fillings such as Steak and Kidney, Minced Beef and Onion, Just Chicken Pie, Chicken & Bacon and Chilli Beef Pie.

The new Vegetable Balti comes with Vegetarian Society approval and will be available from Morrisons and B&M stores nationwide at an introductory half-price offer of £1.

Filled with potato, onion, red pepper, tomato, carrot, peas, in a spicy balti sauce, it is topped with puff pastry and is ready to eat after 25 minutes in the oven.

Lorraine Rothwell, of Fray Bentos, said: “Our pie-hard fans love our range, but we have seen huge demand recently for vegetarian foods which we’re happy to respond to.

“Meat lovers need not worry – we’ll never ditch our famous steak pies and puddings, but this means that everyone can get a taste of that famous Fray Bentos home-cooked pastry.”

The pies have been developed by the innovations team at Baxters Food Group, which bought the brand in 2011, in response to consumer demand.