Judges chewing through record number of pies to find NZ's best

Judges tasked with finding the country's best pie face their toughest job yet with an unprecedented 388 bakeries taking part this year.

The figure is a big jump from the previous record of 290 and has created a logistical challenge for organisers of the Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Awards.

"Blind" judging, with all pies being coded, is being conducted in Auckland today with the panel assessing about 4000 pies for pastry, filling and flavour.

The entry list shows the presence of Asian bakeries continues to grow – from 5 percent of entrants 10 years ago to 60 percent this year.

The competition is divided into 11 categories, for which there will be gold, silver and bronze medals.

The bakery producing the best pie overall will get the supreme award and $7500.

Bakels chairman Duncan Loney said the real value of the top prize was "intangible".

"The worth in retail dollars to the winner is huge," he said.

"Some past supreme winners have enjoyed up to 300 to 500 percent increase in sustained sales."

The competition results will be announced on Tuesday night.

Statistics New Zealand figures show the New Zealand pie market is worth more than $120 million a year, outstripping the burger market.

- NZPA