Holland's Pies - History

History

Holland's was founded by John Whittaker in 1854 as a confectioners shop in Haslingden, Lancashire. Walter Holland bought the business in 1890, and moved to a much larger bakery in 1907, from where pies were delivered locally by horse and cart. The first of Holland’s famous brightly painted vans appeared in 1927, and by 1938 there was a fleet of 20 vans making regular deliveries around the North West. Cake production ended at the bakery due to sugar-rationing during World War II, and meat pies became more popular.

After the war, in 1946, the decision was taken to sell the company to R.Gummer Ltd., a provisions firm of London and Liverpool. Holland’s was bought out by Pork Farms in 1972, who in turn were bought by Northern Foods in 1979. Holland's thus became part of one of the UK’s major food manufacturing groups.

Remaining part of the Northern Foods portfolio following the sale of Pork Farms to Vision Capital in 2007, Holland's pies and puddings are sold at 85% of chip shops in North West England.