Entrepreneurs aim for a bigger slice of the pie

TWO young entrepreneurs with a taste for the finer things in life are making a healthy living from their vegan pies.

Tom Morgan from Neath and Emyr Harris from Glynneath, both 33, use their base at Sandfields Business Centre, Port Talbot, to make the pies and then sell them to clamouring customers at food markets all around the UK.

With tongue-in- cheek names like Swedey Todd and Drunken Mushroom the pies go down a storm with those who will not eat any animal products and the pair want to grow their business even more.

They said: “We have no aspirations of being a multi-national corporation although we would like to take the business to a higher level.”

They started Mr Nice Pie as a complete change of direction from their previous roles as registrar at a Cardiff college and an owner of a marketing company in the Neath valley.

He explained: “That job was figures and statistics based but I wanted something different so I worked for a Cardiff company making vegetarian food and then set up Mr Nice Pie.”

Emyr had been running an advertising magazine but when Tom needed someone to take the business along he joined him in producing vegetarian and vegan pies.

“We saw how popular the vegan pies were and decided to concentrate on them and we now have a range of five.

“None of our pies contain any animal products, preservatives, unnatural flavourings or other nasties of any kind.

“We have ideal production facilities here at Sandfields Business Centre and we make the pies on two days a week and then take them to food markets in London, Leeds, Portsmouth and Manchester on the other three days along with our regular stalls throughout South Wales,” he added.

Councillor Ali Thomas OBE, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council said, “With top quality facilities, on-site advice and financial support from the Economic Development Team, Sandfields Business Centre has given this business the ideal platform to realise their full potential.”

Sandfields Business Centre has opened doors to entrepreneurs for almost 17 years thanks to funding from Europe, the Welsh Office and Neath Port Talbot Council.

Officially opened by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1998, the centre initially housed 9 offices and four workshops but such was its success that four years later further construction took the centre to 24 offices and 11 workshops at a cost of £1million.

The centre offers a wide range of support including broadband and reception facilities together with affordable rents and a relaxed community atmosphere.

Many companies have started life at the centre over the years only to move on to larger premises and greater opportunities opening the door for the next generation of entrepreneurs.