Pie Face heads to NZ

Bakery cafe business Pie Face has expanded into Auckland, New Zealand and its local operators plan to open 10 stores over the next 18 months and 60 within the next 10 years.

Pie Face, which was founded in Sydney in 2003, now operates close to 80 stores across Australia, five in New York, and is currently planning expansion into the Middle East and India.

Business owners Julian Field and Jared Palmer secured an exclusive licence to operate Pie Face in New Zealand.

“Everything is made here in our central kitchen facility in Auckland using quality, local ingredients and premium cuts of meat including prime lean New Zealand steak and mince,” said Field.

“Our pies have a higher ratio of meat than others on the market. Our mince pies, for example, are 70 per cent New Zealand beef, compared to others on the market that average around 25 to 30 per cent.”

Field said several flavours have been developed especially for the New Zealand market, including butter chicken, Thai chicken curry, chunky steak, tandoori vegetable, bacon and egg, and mini lemon and cherry pies.

He says Pie Face’s Auckland kitchen facility is capable of producing 1000 pies an hour. The pies, pizzas and other pastries are then baked fresh in store each day.

Wayne Homschek, co-founder and global CEO of Pie Face said he saw a bright future for the brand in the New Zealand market.

"We are excited to be in business with Julian and Jared in New Zealand, given their depth of experience in building, operating and franchising QSR stores in New Zealand. We are like-minded in our hands-on approach to operations."

Pie Face also recently signed a memorandum of understanding agreement with Rick Aylett and Ajay Grover to manage its expansion into India.

“The Indian market is beginning to develop in terms of QSR food brands expanding through the market. The territory has a very large and growing middle class of over 170 million people, and represents a significant long term growth opportunity for the company,” he said.