Pie shop rises to the occasion with double award win

Gilfach’s Hancox’s Pies scooped two awards at the Best of Welsh Business Awards earlier this week. 

Hancox’s Pies and Alex Hancox took away trophies for Best Caterer 2023 and Businessman of the Year 2023 at the awards ceremony on March 12.

Alex, 42, is originally from Portugal and sells authentic Portuguese pies and pastries at his shop on Commercial Street.

Alex told Caerphilly Observer more about his successes.

“It’s crazy,” said Alex, “I was in disbelief.”

The Best of Welsh Business Awards are voted on by the public and are the fifth and sixth award wins for Hancox’s overall.

Hancox’s Pies opened in July 2020 in the midst of the Covid pandemic but has managed to grow and succeed despite challenges. 

“It’s been a tough two and a half years but we’re getting there,” added Alex, who feels their success lies with their customer-centric approach. 

“We do everything the customer wants and that’s what makes us different from everyone else,” he said. 

Customers can order what they like – even if it’s not on the menu. This is, Alex says, a different way of thinking. 

“A lot of people don’t go and think outside of the box – we haven’t got a box.”

This kind of approach has created not just a community of supporters in Bargoed but also further afield. 

“It’s not just in Bargoed,” said Alex, “you’ve got people as far as Portsmouth, sometimes they ask us to post pies.” 

The shop is open seven days a week and sells around 300 items. This, along with a catering and an events side of the business, means support is key.

None is more important than what he gets from Delme, his husband.

“He’s got his own job but he’s ready, always, at the drop of a hat,” said Alex, “no matter what it is, what time it is – he’s there.

Alex is in the process of buying the shop premises and expanding to the space next door which has been empty for five years – but that’s as far as it goes.

“I don’t want to expand elsewhere,” he said, “because you lose the personal touch then.”

“It’s rewarding,” added Alex, “tiring but rewarding.”

Hancox’s Pies is located on 7 Commercial Street, Gilfach, and is open seven days a week. 

The next Best of Welsh Business Awards will take place in March 2024 and voting will open in September.