anyone for a part pie

A great story and one for the super fund IMO:

Patties Foods:

http://www.patties.com.au

Its' principal acticity is the Manufacturing and supplying of branded frozen savoury and dessert products.

Four’N Twenty Enters US Market

Australia’s food icon, the Four ‘N Twenty meat pie, is tantalising tastebuds in America.

Manufacturers of Four’N Twenty, Patties Foods, have appointed a US distributor and shipped the first container of Aussie meat pies to the States.

American consumers will now be able to experience the great taste and satisfying meal that Australian’s have been enjoying since 1947.

Patties Foods Managing Director, Richard Rijs, says it is a proud moment for the Bairnsdale-based (Gippsland, Victoria) company, which has been manufacturing Four’N Twenty pies since 2003.

“This year is our 40th Anniversary as a food company, and what better way to celebrate than to take our flagship product, Four’N Twenty, into one of the world’s biggest consumer markets”, Mr Rijs said.

Exporting Four‘N Twenty meat pies to the USA has a touch of irony for Patties Foods, which reclaimed Four‘N Twenty into Australian ownership when it bought the brand from a US company in 2003.

“Since restoring Four‘N Twenty to Australian ownership we have re-invigorated the brand, and re-established Four’N Twenty as Australia’s favourite convenience food.

“Now it’s time for American consumers to enjoy Four’N Twenty pies. Market research and sampling in the USA has convinced us there is a demand for this type of product in the American market.

“American tastebuds are particularly keen on our special flavour products, such as Four’N Twenty Beef & Barbecue Sauce, and Beef & Cheese”, Mr Rijs said.

Four’N Twenty is targeting the Quick Serve Restaurant trade in the US, as well as theme parks, cruise ships and airlines. The product has been well received, and initial orders are for 2 containers (180,000 pies) per month.

“Meat pies are a new experience for American consumers, brought up on hot dogs and burgers. We believe Americans will catch on to the convenience, great taste and value of Four’N Twenty products.

“Consumer reaction to date has been very favourable - Americans love the idea of an Australian product”, Mr Rijs said.

Production of meat pies for the USA has been a significant step for Patties Foods, which has had to satisfy stringent US import laws, food regulations and develop new packaging to comply with US labeling laws.

“Once the initial distribution orders have been delivered we plan to conduct some further promotional activity in the US to educate Americans on the delights of the great Australian taste.

“We’re taking Bairnsdale to Broadway, and that’s a very exciting journey”, Mr Rijs said.

Patties Foods distributor in the USA, Ed Beshara, says reaction to Aussie meat pies in the US has been astounding.

“US consumers are telling us they like Aussie meat pies for the taste, the flaky pastry, and the convenience”.

Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) chief economist Tim Harcourt said the Patties Foods deal demonstrated both an increasing focus on the US market by Australian SMEs since the AUSFTA came into effect in 2005, and the awareness-raising benefits of the agreement.

“Building Australia’s brand in a vast market like the US – through deals like this one by Patties Foods – is very important to get us ‘noticed’ and build on our good standing amongst American consumers,” Mr Harcourt said.

"Austrade was also instrumental in delivering and implementing this opportunity, starting with our Miami office putting the US client in contact with companies in Australia, after which Patties was chosen as the supplier."