Square Pie hits Westfield Stratford as UK expansion begins

28-Jul-2013 - Last updated on 29-Jul-2013 at 12:56 GMT

Square Pie's founder Martin Dewey with two of his operation team members at Glastonbury

Square Pie is set to open a fifth outlet at Westfield Stratford shopping centre this week as the London-based handmade pie specialist looks to expand to 20 venues within the next four years.

The British chain, which says it operates ‘quality quick service restaurants’, will open at Westfield Stratford’s Food Court on Thursday (1 August), sharing 1,400 covers with the likes of Pho, Tortilla and Yo! Sushi. It is the third Square Pie outlet to open in a shopping centre, following existing units in Bluewater and Westfield London.

The new site marks the start of a new era for Square Pie, with a new look and a menu evolved from its classic pie and mash. Part of this new offering will be a range of ‘Canapies’ – mini, two-bite pies priced at £1.50 each, for a lighter lunch option.

“We are excited to launch at Westfield Stratford and believe that Canapie will prove a real hit,” said Square Pie founder Martin Dewey. We can wholeheartedly say that the British still love pies, even when temperatures match the South of France.”

Naked Pies

Square Pie’s new menu also features a range of lighter options such as British salads, sweet potato mash and 50 per cent less fat ‘Naked’ pies, along with a combination of hot and cold sides. The chain’s other sites are situated in Old Spitalfields Market and ExCel London and it last month served over six tons of mash potato and pies at Glastonbury Festival.

The business recently secured funding through business angels, the Enterprise Investment Scheme and present shareholders. It plans to operate 20 Square Pie outlets within the next four years and is in discussion in various locations, with one in the legal stage.

Square Pie was founded by Dewey in 2001, withthe first outlet - The Square Pie Company - opening in Spitalfields in November of that year.