As one of the few sources of hot food during lock down, the demand for pies from a Whakatane dairy has tripled.
Bawik Patel, who owns and runs Allandale Superette with his wife, Marshi, said he would normally sell around 500 pies a week, but last week he sold 1800 and his suppliers, Goodman Fielder, were struggling to keep up with demand.
“They have only been able to fill about 20 percent of their orders. I had ordered another 300 to be delivered today, but only received 45.”
He said one of the superette’s most popular items was the Tauranga-made Raymons Pies brand, which had a more “home-made” appeal.
Mr Patel said one difference during lock down was that pies had to be sold in their packaging, which had confused some customers, who felt it took away from that home-made look.
He has had to assure them that they are the same pies, he just isn’t taking them out of their packaging.
Other items in higher demand than usual are bread, milk and cream.
“Business has doubled,” he said. “We are getting a lot of unusual requests. A lot of people are really struggling with the lockdown. We have had to extend a lot of credit to many of our regular customers who are having a hard time. We are also putting together a lot of deliveries for people who can’t get out. The Beacon has been very popular. We have had to get more dropped off, and we have a standing order of about 120 that we deliver to the rest homes. People don’t have anything else to do.”
However, he is aware that the upsurge in business is only temporary.
“As soon as all the other businesses can start up again, it will stop.”
Whakatane Pak’n Save also reports good sales of takeaways alternatives.
“With restaurant takeaway options not available right now, customers have been gravitating toward our hot chicken and chips to get their KFC fix,” owner Andrew Soutar said.