Supermarket Perimeter - September 2024 - 27

* Unbaked Peach Blueberry - East Coast meets West Coast in this
delicious pie featuring two favorite fruit flavors. This classic pie is as
refreshing as it is colorful, making it a great seasonal feature.
* Unbaked Delightful Strawberry Rhubarb - red ripe strawberries and
tart rhubarb are a classic combination. One taste of this old-fashioned
favorite and you'll remember why. This tasty treat is sure to boost pie
sales, especially during early spring and summer.
Growth through acquisition
Recent acquisitions have also led to a stronger supply chain. For
instance, this summer, leading bakery manufacturer Rise Baking
Company acquired Worcester, Mass.-based Table Talk Pies, Inc.
Making freshly baked pies in Worcester since 1924, family-owned
Table Talk is one of the country's leading full-line pie producers,
specializing in 4-inch snack pies and 8-inch to 10-inch dessert pies.
" Rise's commitment to innovation and uncompromising quality
aligns perfectly with Table Talk's values, making this a win-win
opportunity that sets Table Talk up for success going forward, " said
Table Talk president Isaac Long. " We're excited to bring our century of
experience and expertise in the pie industry to the Rise platform, joining
its trusted brands in delivering exceptional quality and continued
growth. We remain committed to our customers, the partnerships we've
built, and driving innovation in the category together. "
A portfolio company of the private equity firm Olympus Partners, Rise
is a leading provider of premium cookies, icings, cakes, pies, muffins,
brownies, dessert bars, artisan breads, and flatbreads in North America
to retail bakeries, foodservice operators, and distributors.
" We're excited to welcome Table Talk and its employees to the Rise
team, " said Brian Zellmer, chief executive officer of the Minneapolisbased
Rise Baking Company. " As our second pie acquisition, we're eager
to grow our slice of the pie industry, unlocking new possibilities while
preserving the valued heritage of the Table Talk brand. "
Already under the Rise umbrella are the trusted brands Brill, South
Coast Baking, Best Maid Cookie Company, Henry & Henry, New French
Bakery, Bakestone Brothers, and Karp's. With the Table Talk acquisition,
the combined business will now have 20 Rise Baking Company
manufacturing facilities across the US and Canada with an estimated
3,700 total employees.
" We're thrilled to see Rise grow in the pie category, continuing to
expand their offerings to better serve their customer base, " said Mike
Horgan, partner at Olympus Partners. " The Rise team continues to
demonstrate an exceptional ability to create and implement business
strategies that grow their existing and newly acquired brands. "
Rise Baking Company is a North American bakery manufacturer
that produces a broad portfolio of products for in-store bakeries and
foodservice customers, including leading national grocery chains,
convenience stores, QSRs, and mass merchandisers.
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.
Competition
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
supermarketperimeter.com
SEPTEMBER 2024 - 27
A wider
variety of fresh
pie options
translates into
higher sales.
http://www.supermarketperimeter.com
Supermarket Perimeter - September 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Supermarket Perimeter - September 2024
