The 2024 Ballarat’s best pie competition will focus on heroing local produce and profiling the chefs’ and producers of our region. We are looking for 30 of Ballarat’s best pies. Pie submissions close 17 April 2024, unless all 30 available spaces are filled prior, so get in quick!
THE COMPETITION
- Categories for this year’s competition include best sweet pie, best savoury pie, best bakery pie and overall winner.
- A new category will also be added this year, awarded to the pie that best heroes local produce. Businesses can only enter one pie to the competition for 2024.
- When you submit your pie, it will be assessed based on the below competition criteria. Only 30 pies can be accepted for the competition. Please note that submitting a pie will not guarantee entry into the 2024 awards.
- Pies that are successful in their submission will be notified the week of 29 April.
- Judging for the competition will be held on Saturday 3 August.
- Winners of the competition will be announced on Saturday 3 August.
- More details on the judging will be shared closer to the event.
- Throughout August, visitors will be encouraged to go to included venues and taste the pies. Please see details on marketing campaign below.
COMPETITION CRITERIA
- Pie must feature a minimum of one local ingredient, but the more local ingredients the better (see below supplier suggestions for more information on this).
- Pie must be available for the public to purchase from 1 – 31 August.
- Venues must be a Tourism Midwest Victoria Industry Partner with a valid ATDW listing.
- Collaborations between more than one business are encouraged.
BENEFITS OF BEING INVOLVED
Ballarat’s best pie will amplify local business through a tailored marketing campaign. Inclusion in Ballarat’s best pie competition will include the following benefits:
- Access to local and intrastate audiences
- Platform to launch a new product
- Broadcast your brand to a wider audience
- Inclusion on the Ballarat’s best pie competition website
- Where appropriate, inclusion on the Visit Ballarat and City of Ballarat social media channels and e-newsletters
- Access to campaign marketing materials.
MARKETING REACH
The Ballarat’s best pie marketing campaign will feature advertising across a wide range of channels including social media, digital advertising, public relations and print.
- Visit Ballarat (Facebook and Instagram)
- Over 100,200 followers
- City of Ballarat (Facebook and Instagram)
- Over 56,600 followers
- Ballarat In The Know (Facebook and Instagram)
- 8,900 followers
- Visit Ballarat Email Database
- 23,000 subscribers
- Ballarat In The Know Email Database
- 5,000 subscribers.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
- Express your interest via the form link below
- If your entry is successful you will be notified on 29 April 2024 with information on how your pie will be included in the marketing campaign, including a photo shoot.
- The Ballarat’s best pie competition website will be launched in June 2024.
- Judging will take place on Saturday 3 August 2024. More details will be provided closer to the event.
SUPPLIER SUGGESTIONS
An important part of the promotion and story of our region’s wonderful food experiences are the makers and producers of our region. Featuring locally made or grown produce as ‘hero’ ingredients in the pies that are featured is a key part of not only the eligibility, but also allows us to invitation to explore all of the mouth watering reasons to stay in our region longer.
For this competition, we define local as being produced or grown in the City of Ballarat or the surrounding regions of Pyrenees, Moorabool, Hepburn and Golden Plains. If you are looking for local suppliers, we encourage you to visit Commerce Ballarat’s Central Highlands Growers and Producers Hub.