Lattice toppings on fruit pies are often done manually although they can be automated in two ways: either with a dough sheet that is slit and stretched or with a rotary moulder.

While inflation and supply chain snafus have affected most corners of the food industry, makers of pies sold in grocery instore bakeries face a unique challenge in addition to those common ones: lower industry capacity due to several large producers leaving the market.

One thing the global supply chain and labor situation has driven home is the importance of retailers getting their holiday pie orders in — the sooner the better.