Elmore Bakery sales team Deb Brearley, Kylie Johnson, Melissa McKean, co-owner Leah Wilson and Olivia Clarke are the smiles behind the pies. Photo: Jordan Townrow.
In arguably the most competitive category at the Great Aussie Pie Competition, Elmore’s own got recognition in a big way.
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The plain mince pie from Elmore Bakery was awarded the prestigious gold award at the annual event, held in Sydney from September 8 to 11.
While the bakery has been given the nod at past Great Aussie Pie Competitions, it is the first time its bestseller has been recognised this way.
“It was the first time we received a gold for our plain mince pie,” co-owner Travis Wilson said.
“We’re pretty excited because plain mince pie is our number one seller.
“We’ve got gold before for different things; we’ve had a roast vegetable pie get gold, pulled beef and jalapeño cheese on there previously.”
Elmore Bakery co-owners and bakers Travis Wilson and Nathan Bowes with their award-winning plain mince pies. Photo: Supplied.
The most humble of all fillings, the plain mince pie does not give bakers anywhere to hide.
“I think it's the hardest category to get gold,” Mr Wilson said.
“They’re looking at all different factors. The pastry flakiness, the base being baked off properly, and the good flavour of the pie meat.
“(Also) good quality ingredients, which we get from our local butcher.”
The gold award is not just a testament to Elmore Bakery, but to its suppliers, largely sourced within the region.
Among the businesses are Elmore Meats, Cottam’s Family Butcher in Rochester and Cadell Food Service in Echuca.
“We try to keep everyone local,” Mr Wilson said.
“All our mince comes from our local butcher in Elmore.”
It was this mince that landed the bakery the gold, an honour that attracts customers from near and far.
Many pie and bakery enthusiasts will clock up the kilometres to taste award-winning goodies.
“People are interested in trying a gold medal product, they ... might not have heard of our bakery before, they’ll come in and try a meat pie,” Mr Wilson said.
“They’ll buy something else, and they’ll see our quality range of products.
“If you can get a gold medal like what we have, (it’s) a real big thing for us.
“We’ve already noticed the sales up in pies.”
The Elmore Bakery team members were proud to show off their award-winning pies and vanilla slices. Photo: Supplied.
Mr Wilson credited the work of his bakery staff for the success, from the front-of-house team to the bakers.
“Our staff are very friendly, always smiling at customers, keeping them very welcome,” he said.
“A lot of them know locals by their names, and it’s just a real good community.
“A big shoutout to our baking team of over 10 bakers now.”
As for those paying a visit to Elmore Bakery, Mr Wilson recommends starting with a pie and finishing it off with another award winner.
“We’ve just recently won fourth-best vanilla slice in Australia as well as the Great Aussie Vanilla Slice Triumph at Merbein,” he said.
“These things sell themselves anyway, but if you get something really special .. people just buy them.
“They travel, they road-trip with their friends to have coffee and pies.
Travis Wilson with the baking team behind-the-scenes. Photo: Supplied.
“We like to be a bit of a stopping point, we want people to travel to us.”
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