Holland's offer panellists chance to taste success
It's been described nationally as the ‘dream job’, now four local people have been short-listed as prospective ‘pie-tasters’ for Lancashire’s leading pie maker, Holland’s Pies, and they’ll shortly make their way to the company’s Baxenden factory, known as the ‘big kitchen’, to see if they are made of the right stuff.
Last month, Holland’s Pies managing director, Neil Court-Johnston sparked a search for the region’s most passionate pie people to join a select 15 person panel as part of his quest for pie perfection.
Now the successful applicants will undergo a series of specially arranged tasting sessions, which will see them go head to head with 60 finalists carefully selected from all over the north west.
Product Development Manager, Maria Yuste, whose job is to ensure that the famous pies are of the highest quality, is adamant that the Pie Panel is no gimmick:
“I think this event has created so much attention because, quite simply, it matters to people. The response has been phenomenal, as well as hundreds of applicants in this region we’ve had enquiries from all over the UK and as far afield as New York, Oslo and Islamabad!
“Of course we want the day to be fun and naturally we want to show our appreciation to everyone who attends, but this exercise is the start of a long term project to ensure that we remain in touch with the tastes of the whole region.
“That’s why we’ve put together a series of taste tests to ensure that whilst having a good day, we’ll be able to select people who can play an important role in the future of Holland’s Pies – and help us to shape the decisions we take.”
The event, which will be split over two days on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 October, will include a tour of the famous factory, including the ‘Big Kitchen’ followed by a series of taste tests.
Whether successful or not, every applicant will leave with a Holland’s goody bag including a pack of pies, a Holland’s replica van and a commemorative photograph of the day will be forwarded later.
Once selected members of the panel will be invited to advise on existing products, help to create new recipe ideas and try new dishes before anyone else.
Holland’s employs over 400 people at its Lancashire base and is part of the chilled division of Northern Foods. The company enjoys a 60% share of the market in the north west, an area where 92% of people have heard of Holland’s Pies.
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