Baking & Snack - December 2024 - 36

PIES
" WITH OUR EXPANDED PRODUCT
LINEUP, WE CAN OFFER LARGER
PIES PERFECT FOR CELEBRATIONS
ALONGSIDE SMALLER
SNACKABLE OPTIONS TO CATER
TO THE DIVERSE PREFERENCES OF
OUR CONSUMERS. "
Michael Docherty, Rise Baking Company
Pie makers need to
venture further into the
single-serve segment
where dessert competitors
like Eli's Cheesecake
successfully provide
individual treats for
snacking and smaller
households.
Maureen Schulman
He added the reaction from retailers has been positive.
" We have batted a thousand with recent customer visits
and have created new business for Rocky Mountain
Pies with new price-point products using our premium
formulas for our customers, " he said. " Our new
smaller portioned products create the impulse for the
smaller household shopper and the 5 p.m. shopper who
is cruising quickly through the store looking for tonight's
dinner. "
He added the smaller pie program also addresses a
pain point for retailers. In-store bakers no longer have
to cut a whole pie in half to offer smaller pies that have
proven to boost sales. They also don't have to toss away a
60-cent pie box, purchase two half-pie plastic containers
and print their own labels.
" Those extra costs are a tough sell to customers who
want to purchase half pies at a lower price, " Grandinetti
said. " Our new half pies come all-inclusive and are
ready-to-go. That makes in-store bakers' jobs easier. "
However, there is a catch-22 - one that keeps many
pie producers from playing the small game.
" Margins are a concern, " Grandinetti said. " Smaller
products on the same line mean lower margins to cover
overhead. As a result, we need to sell many more, and
we're betting that this program will do just that. "
For its part, Sara Lee now offers a whole portfolio
of single-serve cream pies under the company's Cyrus
O'Leary brand for in-store bakeries. Morris pointed
out the line's packaging is designed for grab-and-go,
with a resealable lid for snacking occasions. The company
started with smaller versions of the brand's core
8- and 9-inch cream pies, including Chocolate, Coconut,
Banana and Sour Cream Lemon. The portfolio later
grew with innovative and seasonal flavors like Tiramisu,
Strawberry Shortcake and Pumpkin.
Michele Stuart, owner, Michele's Pies, Norwalk, Conn.,
compared the individual dessert trend to the cupcake fad
that popped up across the country 15 years ago.
" Everyone bought their own cupcake.
They didn't have to share it with
somebody, " she said. " With pies, we can
do that. "
Her store has seen a surge in 5-inch pies
for everyday consumption and 3-inch offerings
for weddings and special occasions.
" People will come in and order four
5-inch pies instead of a 9-inch pie because
they want either to try different types of
pies or they just want their own, " Stuart
explained. " I've seen multiple people sneak
a pie that they want to eat themselves. "
Stuart said her bakery relies on seasonal,
fresh fruit - no canned or prepared fillings
- to create the homemade pies that harken
Rise Baking Company offers pies of all sizes to
accommodate consumers' requests ranging
from smaller snack products to family-style items
for special occasions.
Rise Baking Company
36 Baking & Snack December 2024 / www.bakingbusiness.com
http://www.bakingbusiness.com
Baking & Snack - December 2024

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