British food manufacturer Samworth Brothers has purchased a minority stake in pie maker Higgidy.

Financial details of the deal have not been divulged.

Samworth Brothers chief executive Flor Healy said: “The Higgidy team has been extremely successful over the past 16 years in growing a much-loved and contemporary premium consumer brand with strong retailer partnerships.

“Our own business already has a great track record in developing brands with distinctive identities and brand stories. We are also strong in savoury pastry and food-to-go and have been successful in innovating and developing these categories further in recent years.

“Our involvement in Higgidy will help build on these existing business strengths and open up significant new opportunities.”

As per the terms of the deal, Samworth Brothers will have the option to increase its stake in the business in the years to come.

Higgidy will continue to operate as an independent business entity with its own manufacturing facilities.

Samworth Brothers CEO Flor Healy will be joining the Higgidy Board as a non-executive director.

Higgidy CEO Mark Campbell said: “We love making feel-good family food and our long-term ambition for Higgidy is to build an enduring British food business that we can all be proud of in the decades to come.

“We’ve always known that to achieve this in our sector we’d need to partner with a larger business at the right moment.

“With significant opportunities opening up for us in the market this feels like the exact right moment, and Samworth Brothers’ fit with our values and culture, as well as our strategic alignment, make them the exact right partner.”