Pie may come in from the cold

Last updated 05:00 22/05/2009

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Forget the return of the kakapo from near-extinction, Stacey Jones's rugby league resurrection or the apparition of Sir Roger Douglas in Parliament.

One of the great New Zealand comebacks could be on the cards for budget fast-food chain Georgie Pie.

Riding a wave of public nostalgia, the chain best known for its $1 pie deals is being talked up by its new owners more than a decade after it sank.

Kate Porter, a spokeswoman for fast-food chain McDonald's, said it held the Georgie Pie trademark and was looking at how the company might use it.

McDonald's was "intrigued at the level of passion for the Georgie Pie brand and [we've] put some concepts into research", she said.

The move follows several campaigns urging the revival of the chain.

North Shore baker Martin Gummer has offered to pay a licensing fee and royalties to McDonald's for permission to make the pies.

Broadcasting school students in Christchurch mounted a campaign last year, opening a temporary Georgie Pie shop and shooting a documentary about it.

A Facebook group campaigning to bring back Georgie Pie has about 20,000 members.

Phil Callaghan, 27, owner of Wellington shop Verboom, started making "Bring Back Georgie Pie" merchandise about two years ago. He said the response had been explosive, with thousands of badges sold and some customers bringing in their own memorabilia including a full uniform.

"They always sell well at festivals, where everyone's all about the pie ... every person seems to have a good memory of Georgie Pie."

The recession could boost hopes of a comeback. In the early 1990s, the restaurant sold mince and cheese pies for as little as $1 each about $1.50 in today's terms.

Ms Porter said research was looking at "how much of the love for Georgie Pie was linked to the fact that it was really cheap".

Georgie Pie first opened in 1977, the brainchild of Tom Ah Chee who also opened New Zealand's first supermarket in Otahuhu in 1958.

It grew rapidly and 1300 people lost their jobs when more than 30 outlets were closed in 1996.

- By HANK SCHOUTEN and TOM FITZSIMONS, The Dominion Post

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111 comments
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Kiwikanga   #111   03:26 pm Jun 12 2009

Yes - Bring back the Delicious Pie's. But please for the sake of our children, leave out the nasty MSG. I can't eat out just anywhere because of this. And my kid's are not fans of McD's or KFC, but love the home-made pies when I have time to make them. And leave out as many additives and colourings as possible, for the children of NZ. So many are having problems with them. Be the first ones to be brave and admit you don't need all the additives, colourings, and MSG, to make a GREAT PIE. I am positive, that the original Georgie Pie would not have used them. Lets face it, if I can make them free of all this stuff, and the kids and husband love them, surely you can too!

M   #110   09:16 pm Jun 03 2009

Georgie Pie pies were the best tasting pies around!!! Though if it is brought back it would be cool if they had a gluten free pie available since i'm now intollerant to wheat and i'd be gutted not to be able to eat them after craving GP for years. I'm sure there would be a big market for GP especially if they also offered gluten free for all the celiacs and wheat intollerant people out there who would be willing to pay extra for them.

kelz   #109   05:05 pm May 24 2009

bring back Georgie pie it was the best thing since sliced bread yum

Kiwi`s   #108   04:22 pm May 24 2009

Hey all kiwi`s out there lets show Mc Dee`s what we think boycot them into thay bring back our Geogie Pie.

Emma   #107   10:58 pm May 23 2009

Georgie Pie was amazing. Some of my best memories are from there !!!! NZ is not the same without it... come on McD's, get off the health food bandwagon and bring back the pie !!!!!!!

Glenn Holland   #106   10:22 pm May 22 2009

@Sam #1

Marketing pies (or other foods) internationally quickly becomes a nightmare. If you visit <http://dubpies.com&gt; you'll see an expat Kiwi (the guy who used to own The Gluepot pub in Ponsonby) successfully making and selling meat pies in New York. He's not permitted (read: "supposed") to sell outside the state. Maybe you can journey down from Canada and pick up a car-full. If so, please mail me one in Russia!

Richie "AZ" Azlett   #105   09:19 pm May 22 2009

Yeh man, Georgie Pie was where I used to fuel up in down town Auk on Q St, back in the late 80's, while travelling here. On returning in the late nineties, was dissapointed to hear Mackkkers had bought them out and (ruthlessly) shut em' down. Big bussiness in the boom times! Intersting to hear Mackers (as GP's franchise name "owners") are thinking of resurecting this famous kiwi pie icon. Almost as good as Puka Pies!!!

Andy   #104   08:49 pm May 22 2009

Bring back gorgie pie (mmm), it will balance my diet of mcdonalds, burger king, kfc and the bakery. Hey at least i dont smoke, right?

Sarah   #103   07:06 pm May 22 2009

Shows how brain dead kiwis have become when hundreds will comment about pies!!

Don't eat that rubbish and you may just get your brains firing again.

greek chick   #102   06:43 pm May 22 2009

bring georgie pie back? helllllll yeah, they were the best pies out there, economical and yummmy. except lets hope the recipe is the same cause the person above me is right, if macd's make them they'll taste like skata (gross)


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