A pie shop owner has criticised Chancellor John Healey over the Budget, saying he faces selling tens of thousands of extra pies to cover rising costs. Paul Bowen, who owns Bowen Pies in Chorley, Lancashire, and appeared on The Apprentice in 2024, said he was expecting a £700 a week increase in costs, with further fees passed on by suppliers.
Owner says he must find thousands each week
Speaking to Good Morning Britain, Mr Bowen said his supplier bills amount to around £20,000 to £30,000 a week, and a 10% increase would mean an extra £2,000 to £3,000 a week. He said he would have to find about £4,000 a week overall, equating to roughly 20,000 to 30,000 pies a week.
He said: “I don't qualify for the business rates, I don't qualify for that because I'm multi-site. I've got two shops. So I don't qualify for that. The minimum wage has increased, which we all, every business owner... I'm not saying that we shouldn't pay staff. What I'm saying is we can't afford to pay them.”
Emotional appeal over 'breathing space'
Mr Bowen said he had been positive ahead of the Budget, expecting the Chancellor to understand his situation. He said: “I was really positive. Andy's a northerner, and I thought - he gets it. He gets it, he's listening. And in the headlines John Healey - 'we're going to give families and business owners breathing space'. I read it.”
He added: “My week has gone up, I've got no business rates, I've got no relief. The national insurance is crippling me. The energy crisis is crippling me. I'm going to have to put my prices up, customers are going to get mad. I'm going to get less profit... Me as a family, as a director, I've got to take a 2% cut. So my family, my one-year-old girl... I'm taking a pay cut. My business is taking a pay cut. How is that breathing room for me? Where is my breathing space?”
In an emotional appeal direct to the camera, he insisted: “John Healey, if you're listening, where is my breathing space? You promised the UK breathing space. Where is it?”
Previous warnings and criticism
Mr Bowen had previously warned of the pressures facing his pie business after one of his stores was forced to close amid mounting costs.
The criticism comes as Mr Healey was accused of being “tonedeaf” for sinking a pint at a Westminster pub after his maiden Budget on Wednesday night. A video online showed the Chancellor flinging his red tie over his shoulder while downing the drink amid cheers from onlookers.
