Customers from Wellington are driving north to Napier to sample the pie crowned the best in the country last night.
Greenmeadows New World's potato top pie took out the top prize at the 19th annual Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Awards.
The supermarket's manager, Darrell Eggers, said the pies have today been "flying out the door".
"It's unbelievable. People have been ringing from Wellington to see if they come up will the pies still be there.
"It's blown us all away, we had no idea it would be this crazy."
Today, owner-operator Iain Beaton said extra bakers had been called in to continue baking the winning pie throughout the day for customers.
"They're well on to it... there certainly were some early-birds out looking for the pie," he said.
Mr Beaton was at the awards with baker Shane Forster who designed the award-winning pie.
"I was delighted for the team in the bakery and the effort they put in, particularly Shane," Mr Beaton said.
Mr Forster has been working at Greenmeadows New World for 18 months and this was the second time he entered the awards.
"He was motivated to spend a lot of his own time in the bakery after-hours trying to design pies," Mr Beaton said.
"It's a really good example for the younger bakers in the department, it gives them something to aspire to."
Mr Eggers said the experience had the whole store buzzing.
"Shane is such a nice guy and put so much effort in and now it's paid dividends to not just him but to the whole store."
Last night celebrity chef and judge Martin Bosley said Mr Forster's pie brought back fond memories for him.
"It was a spectacular pie," Bosley said.
"Everything about it ... the pastry crust was perfectly executed, cooked all the way through. It was the perfect ratio of potato topping, the mince was lovely and rich tasting, a good balance with the gravy. The potato was just a cloud-like mash, just enough crispy.
"It reminded me of my Gran's shepherd's pie - I was immediately transported to [her] kitchen as a young boy."
Two Auckland bakeries took out gold awards for their pies.
The best bacon and egg pie can be found at Mairangi Bay Bakery, while the best gourmet fruit pie - a blueberry and spiced apple creation - can be found at the Dairy Flat Bakery.
A bakery just south of Auckland, the Fresh Bun Cafe in Tuakau, took out two gold awards, for its gourmet meat (butter chicken) and chicken and vegetable pies.
Gold Medal pies
Supreme award: Potato top, New World Greenmeadows, Napier
Bacon and egg: Vong Hean, Mairangi Bay Bakery, Auckland
Gourmet fruit: Sao Bunarith, Dairy Flat Bakery, Auckland (blueberry and spiced apple)
Chicken and vegetable: Srieng Choeu, Fresh Bun Cafe, Tuakau
Gourmet meat: Srieng Choeu, Fresh Bun Cafe, Tuakau (butter chicken)
Mince and gravy: Khemara Yin, The Bakehouse Cafe, Thames
Steak (diced) and gravy: Buncheon Keo, One Tree Bakery, Mount Maunganui
Potato top: New World Greenmeadows, Napier
Vegetarian: Bunthy Te, Angkor Wat Bakery and Cafe, Katikati, Bay of Plenty (bok choy, carrot, parnsip and kumara)
Mince and cheese: Sopheap Chouk, Te Awamutu Bakehouse Cafe
Steak and cheese: Roger Cathro, Pak'n Save, Petone
Commercial wholesale: Phil Lyons, Couplands Bakeries, Christchurch
Cafe boutique: Zaqeeyan Zakhiyon, Divine Cakes and Desserts, Christchurch
