º£½ÇÊÓƵ pie company Pieminister has announced plans to temporarily close its online shop ahead of Black Friday.
The Bristol-founded chain said the decision follows a surge in online shopping last year putting "immense pressure" on couriers which led to some orders "going astray or being severely delayed".
The online shop will be shut from Wednesday, November 19, to Wednesday, November 26. Black Friday takes place in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ on Friday, November 28.
In an email on Monday, Pieminister said: "As a business committed to eradicating edible food waste.... that’s the last thing we want to see. So, we’re taking proactive steps to prevent it from happening again.
"Our shop will reopen right after this short break, giving you plenty of time to stock up on your favourites - including our festive specials - in good time for Christmas."
It is understood customers will still be able to order pies and merchandise but any orders placed on or after November 19 will only be deliver from Tuesday, December 2.
Pieminister was founded by Tristan Hogg and Jon Simon in Stokes Croft in 2003. The duo's goal was to "reinvigorate the humble British pie". During the company's early days, Mr Hogg made the pies and Mr Simon ran the shop.
The brand now employs hundreds of people around the º£½ÇÊÓƵ and has restaurants in Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford and Stoke-on-Trent.
In previous years, Pieminister has used Black Friday to raise funds for charity. The company's 'Black Pieday' saw the business give away pies in return for donations to homelessness charity Shelter.
According to Pieminister's latest impact report, in the last five years it has donated 270,113 pies and raised more than £36,000 for charitable causes.
"Being one of the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's most-loved pie brands comes with real responsibility," the report said.
"The food industry contributes to climate change while being incredibly vulnerable to it. We're already seeing devastating effects worldwide, affecting millions of lives right now.
"We still have a window to prevent the worst impacts, but only if we act immediately. Every business needs to stop talking and start doing. The future depends on it."
Earlier this year, the piemaker's new Chana Rama Pie won best vegan pie at the British Pie Awards 2025. The business beat off competition from more than 30 other entrants to take home the accolade.
