Brits prefer to eat theirs pies with pickles and condiments

A new survey has revealed the favourite accompaniments to pork pies, with an overwhelming majority choosing pickles and condiments.

The YouGov survey commissioned by Pork Farms followed a 6 percent increase in pork pie sales during the lockdown period.

A combined total of 60 percent of those who eat pork pies and prefer at least one side said they like pickles (pickle, chutney, and pickled onion) and condiments (mustard, ketchup, and brown sauce).

Cold sides (salad and coleslaw) came in third with 14.5 percent, hot sides (chips, gravy, baked beans) and a Ploughman’s lunch followed with 10 percent and 7 percent of the vote, respectively.

Mike Holton, brand manager at Pork Farms said: “There’s no doubt that pork pies are classic British fridge-staples, with over half of UK shoppers having purchased at least one of the lunchbox, picnic and buffet staples within the last year.

“We’ve also seen these figures grow by an additional 6 percent within the last 12 weeks, so it is really interesting to see the vast differences in people preferences dependent on their age, demographic and location.”

Millennials are most likely to eat their pork pie with a hot side (baked beans, chips, and gravy), while the older generations and baby boomers are more likely to eat their pork pie with pickles, results showed.

The data also found a stark difference to the way regions within England eat the savoury snack. Residents within the North are most likely to eat hot sides (16%), the East saw the highest majority vote for pickle (45.5%) and Ploughman’s lunches (10%), and Londoners are most likely to eat their pork pie with condiments (36%), specifically mustard (24%).

Pork Farms has just undergone a refresh, which will see new branding focused on the company's heritage and 100% British pork, rolled out across its website, social media and marketing materials, as well all its products receiving newly designed packaging.