Owners of Walkden deli Piggy in the Middle have certainly witnessed the highs and lows of running a small business – including having their roof blown off.
Brother and sister Brian Henson and Pauline Southern have survived storm damage, Covid and a host of other challenges to build their thriving food business that makes pies, sandwiches, soup, and delicious fresh meats all ready-made for customers to enjoy in Walkden Shopping Centre.
One of the biggest set-backs they overcame was when the shop roof blew off during the Beast from the East storm in 2018.
Brian said: “I had been outside and had just walked in when the entire roof landed on my car parked at the back of the shop. I had to have the car written off.”
The shop kept going and locals relied on it heavily during the pandemic.
Brian explained: “We always do better when times are bad.
“When the pandemic came it was another dynamic we had to adjust to. People weren’t getting stuff from the supermarket so they jumped to us. Instead of spending £7/£8 with us they were spending up to £70/£80.”
The family moved the shop to Walkden eight years ago after trying various locations since it was established nearly 20 years ago.
He continued: “Changing the business from what it was to what is now has not come overnight. People’s tastes change, their ideas of food change and we’ve had to change and adjust to that.
He first worked in the food business as a Saturday boy on a stall in Farnworth market in 1984.
He said: “When I think back to how we used to do things on the market when I was 16/17 that’s gone now, that doesn’t exist in running a business.”
Piggy in the Middle’s pies are also extremely popular with meat and potato, and cheese and onion being among the favourites but the most popular product is the pea and ham soup.
He said: “We have to make it every day just to keep up.”
The unique name of Piggy in the Middle came from Pauline who always said she “always felt like the piggy in the middle” in her family.
To support Piggy in the Middle you can find them here.
@salfordnownews Piggy in the Middle is located in Walkden and sells a variety of pies, meats sandwiches and meats #salford #localbusiness #pies #worsley ♬ original sound – Salford Now
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