Three jobs have been saved and the future of a long-established Bradford pie-maker secured through a deal which has merged it with an award-winning farm shop business.

Thornton-based H Ambler and Sons Ltd, which since 2004 has operated as a wholesale supplier after closing its butcher’s shop due to competition from supermarkets, has been bought by neighbouring Keelham Farm Shop, which it has supplied for 30 years. Sales to Keelham accounted for almost 50 per cent of Ambler’s annual income last year.

Following the deal Ambler, which dates back 125 years, will continue to produce pies at its Thornton base exclusively for Keelham.

Paul Ambler, great grandson of founder George Ambler, was considering closing the business as he has no-one to succeed. He intends to retire but will stay on for at least three months to oversee the transition to Keelham, co-owned by siblings James and Victoria Robertshaw.

Paul said: “We’re over the moon that Victoria and James will be taking over H Ambler and Sons Ltd and the production of Ambler pies. I know the Ambler name is in safe hands. I’m excited to see how Keelham’s entrepreneurial approach will help shape the future for Ambler.”

Victoria Robertshaw said: “It was an obvious choice to bring Ambler’s wealth of pie-making experience to Keelham. Embarking on partnerships with great local suppliers is an important part of our ethos and our two companies combined make something far greater than the sum of their parts: brilliant pies, locally made, using meat from nearby farms, for customers hungry for a new era in food retailing.”

The acquisition of Ambler is the latest expansion for Keelham which recently gained planning approval for a second farm shop in Skipton as part of a five-year plan to expand the business to other locations in Yorkshire.