Do Gen Z love pork pies more than Millennials and Boomers? We ask people in Wolverhampton what they think

The pork pie is something which is quintessentially British and which has been much loved by the public over the years.

The combination of uncured, chopped pork, hot water crust pastry, and jelly filling has been a popular treat for more than 200 years and butchers across the region have made a name for themselves through the quality of their pies.

It has also been seen, over the years, as a food stuff more suited for the older generation, a meal preferred by Millennials, Boomers and Gen X.

However, a recent survey has shown that Gen Z, or people aged between 18 and 29, are eating more pork pies than any other generation.

The survey, which was conducted by Dickinson & Morris Pork Pies, revealed that a third of Gen Z (37 per cent) ate pork pies at least once a month, compared with 33 per cent of Millennials (aged 30 to 45), 26 per cent of Gen X (aged 46 to 61) and 27 per cent of Boomers (aged 62 to 80).

Within Wolverhampton and the surrounding area, there are plenty of butchers famed for their pork pies, such as Michael Kirk Butchers in Farmers Fold, just outside the Mander Centre.

The butchers sells large number of small and large pies and owner Michael Bachyk said he was seeing a younger crowd buying pies and butchers were being more creative with their pies.

He said: “The younger generations are coming in and buying pork pies and I would presume it's because people who make pork pies now are broadening their range.

“We're making pork pies with chili, with an egg in the middle, with cheese and pickle, black pudding and cranberry and chicken, so there's all different sorts of flavours and the younger generation obviously enjoy the new flavours as well as the older generation.

“It's not just the younger generation buying pies as, for us, we serve people from the age of 80 plus, right down to Gen Z, and they all enjoy coming in and always come back for more because there's so much they enjoy it.

“We've got a couple of young girls who work with us now, and they prefer the chilli pie because it's made with bird's eye chilies as well as a little bit of chili powder to give it a bit of a kick, but I personally prefer the Royale.”

Shoppers in Wolverhampton had a mixed range of views on pork pies, with both older and younger generations talking about how they view pork pies and what they thought of the news around Gen Z.

Chloe, aged, 23, said: “I'm actually allergic to gluten, so I've never tried a pork pie in my life, but, I would try and if I could, they look okay.

“I've never tried one, so I can't give an opinion on that one, but that is quite shocking to me as I really wouldn't think that the younger generation would be eating pies.

“It's more, to me, men who drink in pubs and stuff like that, but, that's a good fact to know.”

Mick Jones, aged 66, said: “A good pork pie. You just can't beat and I like the pastry, not so much the jelly, not runny jelly, but nice, firm jelly and a nice good shape.

“You think that pork pies are an old thing and whenever you go to the butchers, you always look at the pork pie, but, yeah, that is shocking about Gen Z liking them more.”

Brian, aged 76, said: ”I like a pork pie, to be honest, and there was a flavour I tried and I do like a good pork pie.

“I don't think the younger generation really appreciate the history of a pork pie and it’s not really their thing.”

Carol, aged 74, said: “I like a pork pie, but I haven’t tried any of the flavoured ones. I'm not very adventurous.

“With the younger generation, you think more of fast food, so that news is a bit surprising.”

Daniel Blakemore, aged 34, said: “I don't really like them because I don't like the inside of it, as I like the crust and meat bit, but I don’t like the jelly.

“I think they eat them because they’re sitting at home on the computer, so they eat whatever they can and that means going downstairs and grabbing whatever is in the fridge.”