Wrights Marks 100 Years with Limited Edition Centenary Pie and Slice

Wrights is celebrating its 100th anniversary with the launch of two Limited Edition Centenary products, the Centenary Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pie and the Centenary Caramel Custard Slice, plus a new collaboration with local ceramics specialists, Moorland Pottery.

The two new delicious bakes draw on a century of bakery expertise and showcase Wrights’ heritage in both savoury pastry and sweet bakery. They will be available to purchase freshly baked in Wrights 14 retail shops across the North West, including in Hanley, Stoke, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Shelton. The pie will be available from Monday 2^nd March, with the slice following later in March.

Created in collaboration with renowned Staffordshire-based chef and Great British Menu star, Thom Bateman, the Wrights Limited Edition Centenary Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pie is a delicious combination of chicken thigh, leek and bacon in a rich, creamy filling, encased in cheese shortcrust pastry with a puff lid and finished with a bacon-flavoured crumb.

As part of the Centenary celebrations, 10p from every Centenary Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pie sold in a Wrights the Bakery shop will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Research, supporting the charity’s vital work across the UK.

The recipe underwent a detailed development process supported by Peter Wright, former Chairman and CEO of Wrights and grandson of the founders, ensuring the final recipe reflects both contemporary culinary insight and Wrights’ century-long craftsmanship.

On the pie, Thom Bateman commented: “Working with Wrights on a pie for its 100th year has been a real privilege, particularly as a friend of the business and a proud Stokie! Wrights has such a deep heritage in baking, and we wanted to create something that truly reflects and celebrates the local community. The result is a pie that is hearty, indulgent and incredibly satisfying, and I can’t wait to see everyone across Staffordshire enjoying it.”

Wrights is also launching its Wrights Limited Edition Centenary Caramel Custard Slice, a celebratory twist on Wrights’ iconic Vanilla Custard Slice. It features layers of rich caramel custard between crisp puff pastry, finished with decadent icing and it is topped with swirls of caramel icing.

Alongside the new bakery products, Wrights is marking its 100th year with a unique collaboration with local ceramics specialists Moorland Pottery. Working closely with owner and designer Jon Plant, Wrights has created an exclusive commemorative centenary mug.

The design will also feature on a new Wrights bag-for-life, which will be sold in shops later this year for £3. Profits from the bags will be donated to Dougie Mac, the local hospice charity providing specialist palliative and end-of-life care to people with life-limiting illnesses across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire.

Helen Bowyer, Commercial Director – Foodservice at The Compleat Food Group, home of Wrights, said: “Wrights has been baking with pride for 100 years, and we wanted to mark this milestone with products that people genuinely look forward to eating. The Centenary Pie is rich, creamy and packed with flavour, while the Caramel Custard Slice brings a delicious twist to a classic favourite. They’re proper comfort bakes and a celebration of everything people love about Wrights. In addition, our partnership with Moorland Pottery is another meaningful way to celebrate with our local community, giving people the chance to take home a little piece of our Centenary celebration whilst giving back to nearby initiative, Dougie Mac.”

Founded in Stoke on Trent in 1926, Wrights has grown into one of the UK’s leading food bakery businesses. The Centenary products and Moorland Pottery and Dougie Mac collaboration form part of a yearlong programme of celebrations and investment, including a refresh of its retail estate across Staffordshire, expansion of its store network, community initiatives and the Wrights Roadshow, a tour to key customer events and local shops.