ORLANDO, FL — In the 29th edition of the American Pie Council (APC)’s National Pie Championship event, a collective of commercial bakers, wholesale pie manufacturers and independent bakers got to put their pie-baking skills to the test.
The annual competition took place April 8-9 at the Caribe Royale Hotel in Orlando, FL. Entries were evaluated by a panel of expert judges on various criteria, including first impressions, flavor, mouthfeel and overall appeal.
In the Commercial Category, Chaska, MN-based Apple Valley Foods was awarded top honors, taking home 33 blue ribbons. Founded in 1981 and reimagined in 1999, the family-owned food manufacturer makes an assortment of specialty and artisan baked goods in its US and Canada facilities. Its entries covered the spectrum of pie flavors and types, ranging from Traditional Apple and Pecan to Honey Berry and Summer Fruit.
The second-winningest pie producer was Minnetonka, MN-based BBQ Holdings, parent company to casual dining chains Village Inn and Baker’s Square. Among the 22 winning entries were the Andes Mint, Candy Bar and Chocolate Cherry Jubilee pies.
Minneapolis-based Rise Baking Co. and Salt Lake City-based Rocky Mountain Pies tied for third place, taking home 20 awards each. Rise Baking’s entries included flavors such as Strawberry Orchard Oat, Sweet Potato, Strazzberry and Chocolate Eclair. Among Rocky Mountain’s standout pies were Peaches and Cream, Tuxedo Triple Chocolate, Cookie Butter Cream with Caramel and Marionberry Cheese.
The Commercial competition rounded out with eight wins from Lakeland, FL-based Publix Super Markets, seven from Santa Cruz, CA-based Beckmann’s Old World Bakery, four each from Akron, OH-based Gardner Pie Co. and Torrance, CA-based Jessie Lord Bakery, three from Jacksonville, FL-based Winn-Dixie Co., and two from Wick’s Pies.
