Donald’s Pies, a beloved Cardiff food brand, is celebrating a major milestone just one year after its launch. The founders have acquired and opened their first dedicated production kitchen in the Welsh capital, a move that will allow them to increase pie production tenfold and expand partnerships across Wales and the South West.
Founded by friends Gareth Owens and Harri Owain Rees, Donald’s Pies started as a passion project in a converted van, inspired by Gareth’s travels in New Zealand and his late, pie-loving grandad, Donald. The van quickly became a local sensation at Radyr Cricket Club, serving hot, handmade pies to a growing number of fans. The word spread, and soon the team was selling out of classics like the “Jerry Collins” pie, a savory mix of mince, onion gravy, and vintage cheddar.
Their early success led them to take a leap of faith and open a small shop on Quay Street in October 2024. The new location, a stone’s throw from the Principality Stadium, quickly became a staple of Cardiff’s independent food scene, cementing the brand’s place in the city.
Now, with a thriving city centre shop, a popular van, and a growing wholesale business, the new kitchen on Penarth Road will serve as the engine room for the brand’s rapid expansion. “We’ve had so much support from our locals and beyond, but to really go for it we needed a home of our own,” said Gareth. “This kitchen has given us the capacity to say yes to a lot more, and it means shorter days on the M4!”
The new kitchen is already enabling exciting new partnerships. Donald’s pies can now be found at Barry Town RFC, and they’ve collaborated with Tiny Rebel Brewery on a special Steak & Coal Drop Stout pie. Upcoming plans include supplying The Grange Pub, the National Museum of Wales, and five outlets at St Fagan’s Museum of Welsh Life. The team also has kitchen takeover events planned in Bristol, Birmingham, and the London Welsh centre.
To help fund the expansion and give back to their community, Donald’s has launched a campaign called “Own a Piece of the Pie,” which offers fans a chance to invest directly in the business, earn perks and discounts, and share in the brand’s future.
“Donald’s has always been about community,” Gareth added. “So, it’s only right that the people who helped us get here can now say they have their fingers in pies, so to speak.”
To find out more about Donald’s Pies, visit donaldspies.uk.
Ibiza Classics is Heading to the Castle: Pete Tong, Mousse T and K-Klass Announced!
Cardiff’s independent pub, North Star is set to close this New Year’s Eve
