Holland's Pies has been baking in Lancashire since 1851

Few foods say Lancashire quite like a meat pie, and few names are as closely tied to it as Holland's. The company has been making pies in the county for more than 170 years.

Its roots go back to 1851, when John Whittaker opened a confectioner's shop in Haslingden. From those modest beginnings, the business grew steadily, eventually moving its baking to Baxenden, near Accrington, where Holland's has been based for generations.

Over the decades the company has changed hands several times. Pork Farms bought it in 1972, Northern Foods acquired it in 1979, and it is now owned by 2 Sisters Food Group. Through all of those changes, the Baxenden bakery has remained at the heart of the brand.

In 2021 Holland's marked its 170th anniversary. Brand manager Leanne Holcroft said the milestone made Holland's the oldest meat pie manufacturer in the UK, a title that sits comfortably with a company so proud of its heritage.

The anniversary was celebrated with a nod to its home village. Holland's laid on a pies-and-peas treat for Baxenden residents, delivering free pies to 170 villagers, one for every year of the company's history.

The company has also worked to protect the identity of its best-known product. In 2019 Holland's applied to have its meat pie recognised under the Protected Food Name Scheme as the Lancashire Meat Pie, a move designed to celebrate the county's pie-making tradition.

More recently the brand has looked back to move forward. Holland's unveiled what it called its best ever range, reviving classic recipes for a new generation of pie lovers, while continuing to bake the familiar favourites that fans have enjoyed for decades.

For anyone who grew up in Lancashire, a Holland's pie is part of the fabric of everyday life, whether eaten at home, on a cold afternoon or as a treat after work. It is a simple food with a long story behind it. Information on the current range and on the company's long history can be found on the Holland's Pies website.