Charlie Bigham's

Charlie Bigham's

Founded	1996;29 years ago (1996)
Founder	Charlie Bigham
Area served	United Kingdom
Key people	Patrick Cairns (CEO) Charlie Bigham

Charlie Bigham's is a British brand of ready meals founded by Charlie Bigham.

History

Charlie Bigham, a former management consultant from London, started the business in 1996. The delicatessens of Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, and later Waitrose stocked the meals. ^[1]

In 2012, Allan Leighton joined the board of directors. ^[2]

In 2013, Bigham's created "Swish Pie", the world's most expensive ready meal at £314.16, as a publicity stunt. The pie contained lobster, turbot, scallops, smoked salmon and oysters, poached in Dom Pérignon champagne, topped with truffles and a gold leaf crumb, and a side of Beluga caviar. ^{[3] [4]}

Entrance to the Dulcote Quarry Kitchen site

In 2016, Bigham's bought Dulcote Quarry, a disused quarry in Somerset, to build a new factory after outgrowing its premises in London. ^[5] The first phase of the food production campus was designed by Feilden Fowles and completed in 2017. ^{[6] [7]}

In 2020, Bigham's became a certified B Corporation. ^[8]

By August 2020, annual sales had reached £80 million. ^[9]

In 2021, Bigham's launched a £3 million advertising campaign, including radio and podcast adverts voiced by Richard Osman. ^[10]

Charlie Bigham's products in a Tesco store

A serving of Charlie Bigham's Lasagna in its wooden container.

Products

Bigham's produces dozens of dishes, including lasagne, cottage pie, salmon en croûte, steak and ale pie, and beef bourguignon and dauphinoise potatoes. ^[11] They are intended to be heated or cooked in a conventional, rather than microwave, oven. ^[12] The packaging, designed by Perry Haydn Taylor's big fish design agency, ^[13] uses wooden or ceramic ^[14] heatable containers instead of metal or plastic, although aluminium foil trays were briefly used during a container supply shortage in 2012. ^[15]

Reception

The Sunday Times restaurant critic Marina O'Loughlin wrote: "I've never been drawn to this brand – it seemed like a mix of low-rent ready meal and aspirational boujie, invented by someone a bit posh and, um, chinless," but concluded that the lasagne was "delicious". ^{[16] [9]}

Charlie Bigham

Charlie Bigham studied English Literature at the University of Edinburgh, before working as a management consultant at Andersen Consulting and ABL. ^[1] He also owns the Derreen Estate in County Kerry, Ireland. ^[17]

In 2013, it was reported that Bigham had insured his senses of sight, smell, taste and touch for £12 million. Under the terms of the insurance policy, he was required to avoid dangers such as tasting hot chillies, piercing his tongue or looking directly at bright light. ^{[18] [19]}

References

1. Loizou, Kiki (25 March 2012). "How I Made It: Charlie Bigham, founder of Bigham's". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
2. "Allan Leighton to join board at Charlie Bigham's". The Guardian. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
3. "London's 'Swish pie' is world's most expensive". ITV News. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
4. "UK chef creates world's most expensive ready meal – a fish pie costing". The Independent. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
5. Curry, Rhiannon (16 May 2016). "Ready-made meal producer Charlie Bigham's buys Somerset quarry site for new base". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
6. Mollard, Manon (8 October 2018). "Ingredients for success: Charlie Bigham's food production campus by Feilden Fowles". Architectural Review.
7. Chivers, Hayley (4 April 2023). "Shelf life: Revisiting Feilden Fowles' factory for Charlie Bigham". The Architects’ Journal. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
8. Dawson, Abbie (23 October 2020). "Charlie Bigham's attains B Corp status". The Grocer.
9. Thomas, Daniel (27 June 2021). "Charlie Bigham aims for bigger slice of ready meal market". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
10. Hart, Jasper (13 April 2021). "Charlie Bigham's launches £3m multimedia spring ad campaign". Better Retailing.
11. "Our Dishes". Charlie Bigham's – Home. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
12. Shubber, Kadhim (2 June 2015). "Charlie Bigham: a ready-meal cook's slow burn". Financial Times. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
13. "Charlie Bigham's". Pata Studio. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
14. "FAQs - section 'Are your ceramic dishes dishwasher safe?'". Charlie Bigham's. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
15. Stodell, Hannah (18 August 2012). "Bigham's puts meals back in wooden trays". The Grocer. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
16. O'Loughlin, Marina (10 June 2021). "Marina O'Loughlin reviews Il Portico, Kensington". Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
17. Lucey, Anne (3 July 2018). "Dozens sign petition for wooded walk on Beara Peninsula". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
18. Ruddick, Graham (10 June 2013). "Bigham's founder insures his senses for £12m". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
19. Smithers, Rebecca (10 June 2013). "Ready meals founder Charlie Bigham insures his senses for £12m". The Guardian.