Pies firm wins a reprieve
One of Shropshire's biggest employers was given the go-ahead today to keep producing its Melton Mowbray pork pies for the next five years. Northern Foods bosses, who are looking to sell their Market Drayton-based Palethorpes pie factory, have been fighting plans to limit Melton Mowbray production to Leicestershire.
Northern Foods bosses, who are looking to sell their Market Drayton-based Palethorpes pie factory, have been fighting plans to limit Melton Mowbray production to Leicestershire.
The move would have given the pies the same "geographically protection" as Stilton cheese and Champagne.
Today Defra confirmed that even if that protection is afforded, the European Commission would give long-standing manufacturers five years to transfer production.
Northern Foods has now decided to withdraw its appeal challenging the application by Defra for protected status.
Legal chief, Carol Williams, said: "We are very pleased with the outcome and are therefore withdrawing our legal challenge.
"We have consistently argued that the Melton Mowbray pork pie application represented a cynical misuse of EU rules by the dominant producer in the market, for its own commercial advantage. The clarification we have obtained from Defra vindicates our approach."
Northern Foods will now have five years to transfer production of the pies to a site within the proposed protection zone, if registration is successful.
Northern Foods continued the fight for production rights despite deciding to sell its pastries division, including Market Drayton-based Palethorpes, which employs 1,000 workers.
The move came as a huge blow to the town, but the company said it was confident restructuring plans would not jeopardise jobs.