World-famous — and not just in New Zealand

New Zealand has Great Walks, Great Rides — and we have Great Pies.

The World Famous (and not just in New Zealand) Sheffield Pie Shop in Sheffield, 45 minutes west of Christchurch, has been an icon for over 40 years — both for locals and as an essential stop-off and refuel spot for travellers to and from the West Coast.

The business, comprising two cafes and the bakehouse, is on the market through Sami Chesterton of Link Business Brokers, Christchurch.

Current owners Loretta and Shane are bakers by trade and jumped at the opportunity to buy what was then just one small cafe in Sheffield on their return from their OE in 2002.

“Were looking for an opportunity to put our experience, skills and love of baking into something of our own, and the Sheffield pie shop came on the market. Being locals, it was an ideal business for us, as we understand the style of good wholesome traditional Kiwi food that both locals and visitors to the area would expect and enjoy.

“Being a well-known product locally for over 40 years, keeping amazing product quality and expanding our lines was our focus.”

After years of experimentation, passion and exceptional hospitality, the couple have created a business that now employs nearly 40 staff over two sites and produces an average of 24,000 pies a week.

Everyone has their favourite but it is hard to select with many award-winning pies over the years.

“Our talented bakehouse team creates over 20 varieties of pie. Tradition can never be beaten with steak and cheese always being the favourite, but we are constantly creating.

“A proven winner is our venison and whiskey relish pie and you can't go past our Sheffield Supreme full of steak, bacon, cheese and onion. For the chicken lovers we have our silver award-winning decadent country chicken with bacon and mushroom and there’s our gold award-winning garlic roasted vegetable pie for those who don't do meat. We do fruit pies as well — everyone has their favourite.”

The opportunity for expansion presented itself when the Jo Seagar Cooking School premises on the main street in Oxford, a quaint township only 20 minutes from Sheffield, came on the market. Since 2014 Loretta and Shane have converted it into a highly productive bespoke bakery and cafe with commercial plant and equipment.

Oxford is now the main production hub and product is easily transported to Sheffield.

With the two locations, Loretta explains: “It has now become a Sheffield Pie trail for customers who frequently visit both locations in one day — enjoying lunch in one cafe and catching up for a meeting or coffee in the other, whether it be heading over the Waimakariri River for business or travel, or just because they can.

The business is well known nationally. “Not only do Kiwis enjoy visiting us for the first time on their travels around the South Island, many will return year after year and bring Sheffield Pie novices with them to make sure their travel companions get to enjoy what we have to offer.”

Loretta is often asked how it got its world-famous status. “Sheffield Pies became ‘world-famous' as our international visitors marked it as a compulsory stop on their travels around New Zealand.

“Being listed in the Lonely Planet and on several travel websites and magazines, our locations are on scenic highways to tourist destinations, and even if it is not on their itinerary customers will go off route just to come and experience a trip to our stores.

“We have nationalities from all over the world, as they consider trying a good Kiwi pie part of experiencing New Zealand cuisine. Many of them return time and time again and bring friends to share their traditional Kiwi pie experience — and you can't get more traditional than ours.”

The decision to sell has not come lightly “but we have decided that now we have both cafes and the bakehouse refurbished immaculately, it is time for us to reflect on what we have achieved with pride and move on to new challenges and create a different lifestyle for our family.

“We are satisfied that the business will offer an outstanding opportunity for someone with a love of food, customer service and working with an amazing skilled team — as well as being part of two beautiful rural communities and meeting people from all over the world, while having the satisfaction of continuing to provide a product that has become a household name in New Zealand and beyond.”

Sheffield Pies, with a bakehouse and two cafes, offers an exciting opportunity for acquisition by a larger food retailer or equally passionate baker to purchase an exceptionally well run and profitable business.

Contact: Sami Chesterton, ph 021 0297 8810, [email protected]

— Article supplied by Link