Bells are ringing out for 20 new jobs
Shoppers facing a postcode penalty
Shotts- based Bells Food Group has taken on 20 additional members of staff to cope with demand for their famous steak pies over the festive season.
The third generation family business is giving foodies something to shout about this festive season with the launch of its premium Aberdeen Angus Steak Pie and Hogmanay Steak Pies.
Scotland’s leading pie and pastry manufacturer has unveiled the mouth-watering pies ahead of Christmas with new premium window packaging.
The dedicated team at Bells has introduced a special cooking method which sees their signature pies braised slowly and tenderly, for a melt- in- the- mouth experience.
The new Aberdeen Angus Steak Pie is perfect for families this Christmas and the Hogmanay Steak Pie is a delicious, hearty way to bring in the bells. Both pies are packed with succulent, select cuts of beef, with a rich and flavourful gravy, hand finished with Bells Special Puff Pastry.
Gordon Smith, director of sales and marketing at Bells Food Group, said: “The Bell family has been producing steak pies for three generations and we work hard to constantly improve our traditional recipes and cooking processes at the factory in Shotts.
“Our new steak pies are perfect for sharing with family at Christmas and Hogmanay. Steak pies remain at the heart of the Scottish dinner table, and Bells is a brand loved throughout Scotland”.
The number of pies expected to fly off the shelves this December would reach four times the height of Ben Nevis and be as tall as around 10,000 six foot Christmas trees. Bells employs over 200 people across three sites and 10 per cent of the Scottish population eats a Bells pie every week. Airdrie and Shotts MSP Alex Neil is calling for an end to “the unfair delivery charges” facing many online shoppers in his constituency.
Supporting Richard Lochhead MSP’s Fair Delivery Charges campaign in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Neil has condemned what Citizens Advice Scotland has dubbed the “postcode penalty” facing online shoppers across Scotland.
SNP member Mr Neil said: “It is extremely unfair that some of the most loyal online shoppers in Airdrie and Shotts are the ones facing location discrimination and having to pay a postcode penalty to get their items delivered this Christmas.
“Citizens Advice Scotland’s research shows that many businesses and families in Scotland are being charged an average of nearly £19 extra when buying goods online.
“I am delighted that Richard Lochhead MSP has brought this issue to parliament so that we can highlight the problem and stop retailers getting away with charging wildly different delivery fees for neighbouring postcodes simply because they can.
“Hopefully, the campaign will force retailers to stop this discrimination and adopt set standards for deliveries to each and every corner of the UK, not least Airdrie and Shotts.”