Butcher's new kit

- Published: 01 October, 2009

"We have bought a medium-sized Champion pie blocker. It is from John Hunt," says Peter. "Before this, we had little Champion pie-blockers but we now have a medium one for bigger pies. It makes the job a lot easier.

"John Hunt has been going for a long time and we have used them for years and we needed a bigger machine and they were happy to help."

John Hunt based in Bolton are said to be a specialist in pies and tarts and have been involved in bakery equipment since 1870. The firm's Champion range of machines is completely hand operated in both little and medium sizes and can produce up to 400 shells per hour.

Higher capacities can be met with semi-automatic machines from the John Hunt range with capacities up to 2,000 shells per hour. The hand-operated machines are said to be simple to use, so staff at all levels can carry out blocking operations and the change over of dies for different shapes or pie lids.

A wide variety of dies are available for use with hand operated or semi-automatic machines so that a variety or shapes and sizes can be made.