Premium pie and quiche brand Higgidy is targeting vegans and vegetarians with the launch of two meat-free parcels exclusively in Waitrose.

The NPD rolls out as Higgidy appoints its first formal non-executive director – Susan Barratt, former CEO of Nature’s Way Foods. Barratt (right) will be advising Higgidy on its business strategy as it aims to double its turnover to £50m in the next five years.

Higgidy has added the vegan-friendly Roasted Sweet Potato & Red Onion Parcels – which comprise pastry with a spiced tomato and lentil filling, with chilli-roasted sweet potato and red onion, then topped with millet and black onion seed – to its range.

Artichoke, Feta & Pumpkin Seed Parcels are also hitting shelves. Suitable for vegetarians, they are made with all-butter puff pastry filled with basil, spinach, artichokes and crumbled Greek feta, topped with crunchy pumpkin seeds. Both cost £3.50 for two parcels.

“Whilst we already produce a number of vegetarian foods that go some way towards meeting those needs, we decided to launch a specific vegan recipe that meets the growing number of people who are opting for a vegan lifestyle, but don’t necessarily have the time to spend hours cooking,” said Camilla Stephens, co-founder and CEO of Higgidy.

Commenting on the new appointment, Stephens added: “This is a really exciting appointment for us. Susan is hugely experienced in building a great food manufacturing business. She will add real strength to our team.”

Barratt began her career as a chartered account and spent 13 years with Nature’s Way Foods. Prior to that, she held senior roles at Whitbread, Laurel Pub Co and brewery Eldridge Pope, and has been a trustee with the Institute of Grocery Distributors (IGD) since March 2015.