George Weston Foods has launched two new pie flavours, Big Ben Butter Chicken XXL and Big Ben Lasagne XXL. The two new pies are expected to build on the success of Big Ben El Mexicano, launched last June, which now accounts for 24 percent of unit sales of Big Ben’s XXL™ brand. Encouraged by the demand for new tastes, George Weston looked at other opportunities to innovate the category.
“Innovation is essential, even for a food category as traditional as pies,” says Mark Adam, New Zealand general manager of George Weston Foods.
The Big Ben Butter Chicken pie has an authentic mainstream flavour and, importantly for Kiwi consumers, a mild spice mix.
The choice of a second pie wasn’t so obvious. “We know that Kiwis look online for food ideas and we discovered that lasagne was the seventh most searched for recipe in New Zealand,” said Adam. “We think Kiwis will really connect with this one: it’s made to a traditional Kiwi recipe, with real beef and lots of it. To meet expected demand George Weston Foods is investing over $5 million in new plant and equipment at its Wiri factory, the home of Big Ben pies.
