As the pie category grows, so does the number of players in the market.

The expansion of Whole Foods Market Daily Shop stores reflects an ongoing shift in consumer buying habits across America. Americans are eating smaller portion sizes but more frequently throughout the day.

This shift in consumption behavior opens the door for supermarkets to focus more on smaller portion sizes of desserts including pies. And on the retail side, there is increasing competition for a slice of the pie. For instance, Laurie’s Pie Bar, renowned for its handcrafted pies since 2016, earlier this year announced a franchise program to expand nationwide, beginning with Nevada, Arizona, and Texas. The new franchises will offer premium, handmade pies, coffee, ice cream, and optional beer and wine, upholding the brand’s commitment to quality and artisanal tradition.

“After eight years of crafting delicious, fresh pies, we’re now looking to grow and seek motivated professionals to join our program,” said Laurie Gray, founder of Laurie’s Pie Bar.

Franchisees will receive extensive training, marketing, operational support, and exclusive territories. By joining the Laurie’s Pie Bar franchise family, franchisees are bringing high-quality, homemade pies to communities, supported by a passionate team.

Laurie Gray’s journey from the corporate world to the heart of the bakery kitchen is a story of reignited passion.

Leaving a three-decade career in marketing and finance to pursue her childhood love of baking, Laurie’s Pie Bar was born. Inspired by the idea that pie represents comfort and tradition often overlooked in today’s fast-paced world, the shop in Long Beach, Calif., has been a popular destination since 2016. Laurie’s Pie Bar emphasizes quality and innovation, showing that the best ingredients for a thriving business are passion, creativity, and a great recipe.

At Laurie’s Pie Bar, the menu is a testament to their passion for pie-making, offering a variety of handcrafted, fresh pies daily, including classic, original, and seasonal flavors. Unique offerings like Pet Pies, Cutie Pies in mason jars, and Pie Shots in shot glasses are available, alongside selected coffee drinks and ice cream. For a fuller experience, beer and wine options are also available. Each menu item has been chosen to enhance the joy of pie-eating, creating a memorable visit every time.

Laurie highlights the essence of Laurie’s Pie Bar: “It’s not just about serving food, but offering an experience that evokes home and happiness. Inviting customers into a world of comfort and quality, every slice, sip, and scoop reflects the dedication that makes Laurie’s Pie Bar a cherished destination, attracting people willing to travel hours for our delicious offerings.”

Kicking off in Nevada, Arizona, and Texas, with plans for national expansion, Laurie emphasizes focusing on franchisee satisfaction and controlled growth. She credits the program’s solid foundation to Laurie’s Pie Bar’s growth and market demand.

National Pie Championships

Celebrating pie excellence since 1995, the American Pie Council hosts the annual National Pie Championships, where amateur, professional and commercial pie bakers can compete in their categories for the best pies in the country. The APC judging team has reviewed tens of thousands of pies and the competition continues to grow.

The event now features hundreds of sweet and savory pies in more than 30 flavor categories. In addition, special categories showcase artisan pies, while others speak to today’s health considerations with no-sugar added and gluten-free categories.

Blue ribbon winners were awarded at the 2024 APC National Pie Championships that took place earlier this year in Orlando. Close to 600 pies were entered in numerous flavor categories, including four new sponsored flavors: Florida Beef Council, Karo Syrup, Mango Board and USA Pears. More than 150 blue ribbons were awarded among commercial and independent winners.

In the commercial bakery division, winners included Apple Valley Foods/Harlan Bakeries, Beckmann’s Old World Bakery, David’s Cookies, Jessie Lord Bakery, Publix Super Markets, Rocky Mountain Pies, Sara Lee Frozen Bakery, Southeastern Grocers, Table Talk Pies, and Wick’s Pies.

This article is an excerpt from the September 2024 issue of Supermarket Perimeter. You can read the entire Pies feature and more in the digital edition here.