Our History
1985
In 1985 fifth generation butchers, brothers Andrew and John Green, acquired a long-established butchers shop in
Austhorpe Road, and within a couple of years they began to produce pork pies to their family’s tried and tested recipe.
Andrew Green recalls: “It was a first-class butchers shop, selling only meat. We continued as a specialist meat
shop to establish ourselves before opening an in-house bakery and introducing our own home-made pies about 18 months
later. We haven’t looked back since. The bakery has grown since day one and is going forward all the time.”
2002
Pie baking first started in the original house kitchen with burgeoning demand soon leading to the installation
of a much larger baking area. In 2002, Wilsons acquired two neighboring first floor rooms to further expand this
side of the business, also installing a large walk-in fridge. The pie-making operation now takes over the
entire first floor.
While Wilsons has always been noted for its range of quality traditional and innovative butchery products, it
is the pie-making side of the operation that first brought fame to the business, including a host of prestigious
award wins in meat industry competitions. Their greatest achievements have been three time winners of the great
Yorkshire Pork Pie Competition and also Pork Pie Appreciation Society
annual competition winners. The pork pies certainly speak for themselves.
On average, Wilsons Butchers bakes an amazing 10,000 pork pies per week – a figure that’s certainly not pie in
the sky! As well as the famous pork pies, Wilsons also bake a range of other mouthwatering pies and pasties,
including their special Steak and Ale pies made with Timothy Taylor’s award winning Landlord ale, a winning combination!
If you have never tasted a real Yorkshire pork pie then you should treat yourself to the original fast food!
All produced from fresh produce, Wilsons have a range of pies to suit all tastes.
2007
In April 2007 Wilsons turned their Morley shop into a stand alone pie shop which has since gone from strength to strength.
As word quickly spread about the freshly baked pork pies the demand became so great that Wilsons had to open a dedicated pie bakery in Garforth
making pies to the same high standard.
Once the new extra capacity of the new bakery was established, brothers Andrew and John started to look for new sites for their pie shops.
2008
In April 2008 Wilsons opened a pie shop on Armley Town Street. As Armley had been left without a good pie shop
for some time, the shop was an immediate success and with the addition of a new hot food counter, the shop
offers plenty of hot treats as well as the award winning pies and pasties.
2009
Wilsons take delivery of their new Jiffy Pork Pie van after a sponsorship deal with Leeds Rhinos enabling them to sell their pies within
the stadium, behind the North Stand.
The van is now present at all home games. Come along and try our Pork Pie and Mushy Peas.
The Future
Wilsons are looking to push forward with their Pork Pie & pasty shop concept by looking for
new sites and by utilizing the Pie Van to operate a daily round to workplaces.
If you are interested, please give the shop a call.
Find your nearest Wilsons Shop now