More than one million pies will roll out of Hobart’s ovens this month as National Pies ramps up for AFL and NRL finals. It’s the biggest baking push of the year for the Tasmanian icon, which runs its factory 24 hours a day to keep pace with footy fans’ appetites. Using tonnes of Australian beef and Tasmanian flour, the team produces enough fresh pies to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground, ten times over.
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Of the 10.6 million Australians who say they like pies, pasties and sausage rolls, NSW accounts for 31 per cent of that crowd. That makes the state the biggest single market for pie lovers in Australia. And now NSW pie lovers can enjoy the fresh National Pies range just in time for the footy finals.
The NSW launch includes twin packs of Classic Beef and Curried Chicken Pies, plus Little Beef Pies and Little Sausage Rolls, all made with 100 per cent Tasmanian chicken and 100 per cent Australian beef. The fresh range is oven-ready in about 15 minutes or takes 12 minutes in an air fryer. The Little Pies can be ready in as little as 10 minutes, which is convenient for a quick halftime top-up.
The bakery ships the pies from Hobart to NSW without freezing them, using an air-removal packaging process that extends fridge life and keeps the pies tasting freshly baked.
“Every pie is made from scratch daily, and within hours of manufacturing, our pies, sausage rolls and pasties are being sent across the Bass Strait, direct to our customers in the ready-meal aisle of Australia’s leading supermarkets. It’s an enormous effort from the team, but one that ensures fans enjoy the most convenient pies possible. Our Little Pies are oven-ready in just10 minutes, so you can get back to the game in no time,” says National Pies CEO Geraldine Tebbutt.
National Pies are available in Woolworths, selected Coles stores and independent retailers including IGA and FoodWorks.