It’s time to begin the search for the best pies in New Zealand with entries now open for the Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards.

New Zealand ranks as one of the top places in the world -  if not the top - when it comes to the quality and innovation of pies, and a lot of that is thanks to bakers who aim high with their pies, and then put them to the test in Pie Awards.

“It seems everyone loves the Pie Awards. They love encouraging their local bakery to enter; they follow the process closely and then they celebrate the success of the competitors, even if it’s not their local bakery," said NZ Bakels managing director Brent Kersel.

“We’re proud to be part of that. There’s such a feel-good factor around the Pie Awards and it starts building before we’ve even announced that entries are open.

“As we mark our 27th year, and acknowledge that the Pie Awards have become one of the biggest food competitions in New Zealand, it does us proud to see how far the competition has come and the huge difference it has made to pie production in New Zealand."

Kersel said people talk about our pies all over the world now.

“When we started back in 1996 we had only a couple of categories. Today we have 11 and there’s something for any baker, retail or commercial, café or restaurant, to enter," Kersel said.

The categories are designed to bring out the best in the generally popular pie types such as: Mince and Cheese; Steak and Cheese; Potato Top, and Bacon and Egg, but also to stimulate innovation with the Gourmet Meat; Café Boutique; Vegetarian and the Chicken and Vegetable.

“So what flavour do you think will win this year? We’ll let you know on July 29 when we announce the winners at the Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards," Kersel said.

Entries are now open until June 26. Judging day will take place on July 24, and the Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards will be held on July 29.

For more details see: pieawards.nz