Two New England bakeries have brought home a swag of national medals from the 2026 Australia’s Best Pie and Pastie Competition, held on the Gold Coast, putting the region firmly on the map as one of Australia’s top pie destinations.
Inverell’s MacIntyre Hot Bread was the region’s standout performer, collecting 25 medals in total, including one gold, 23 silver and one bronze. The bakery’s Tomato and Onion Pie took out the gold.
The full medal list for MacIntyre Hot Bread covered an impressive range of flavours, including Plain Pie, Chicken Pie, Curry Chicken Pie, Butter Chicken Pie, Bangers and Mash Pie, Silverside and White Sauce Pie, Cob Loaf, Steak Dianne Pie, Brisket Cheese and Gravy Pie, Brisket Mac and Cheese Pie, Vegetarian Pastie, Cheese and Bacon Pie, Ned Kelly Pie, Pepper Pie, Potato Pie, Steak and Kidney Pie, Mexican Pie, Curry Beef Pie, Meat Lovers Pie, Vegemite and Cheese Pie, Chorizo and Cheese Pie, Nacho Pie, Mushy Pea and Potato Pie and Chunky Beef Pie.
Loyal customers were quick to celebrate the result on social media. “We have always said you have the best pies, they are just confirming it!!!! Congratulations,” said Jasmine King. Kristine Zieba-Roberts said the bakery was “always the best place to go, and beautiful friendly staff also,” while Kay Gray said the result was “a credit to Inverell.”
“Well done to all staff at Macintyre Hot Bread, an amazing achievement,” said Bonnie Pallapies.
Glen Innes bakery Sweetie Pies also had cause to celebrate, earning a medal from every one of its 10 entries, with eight silver and two bronze awards. The bakery credited owner Nicole for the strong showing in what it described as a fiercely competitive field.
Customers rallied behind Sweetie Pies online as well. “Outstanding. Very tough competition and all placings are so hard to come by, let alone 10/10. That’s the quality of Nicky’s pies, 10/10,” said Colin Kerr. Terry Gartland was equally effusive, saying the pies deserved top honours across the board.
“Should have been 10 gold. Best pies anywhere, fact,” said Gartland.
The overall best pie in Australia this year went to Kyneton’s Country Cob Bakery, whose Malaysian Prawn Pie beat out entries from 371 bakeries and 2,016 pies from across the country.
The strong results from both MacIntyre and Sweetie Pies come at the perfect time, with voting for the Best in the New England competition opening in July.
The New England Times’s BITNE awards are the region’s own celebration of local businesses, decided entirely by the community. Last year, McIntyre Hot Bread took out the Bakery category, and with 25 national medals now to their name, they will be a strong favourite to defend the title.
But with Sweetie Pies loyal customer base feeling robbed at the national competition, Glen Innes voters may have something to say about that – or maybe you have a local bakery that you think is up to the challenge of taking both of these crowd favourites on?
Voting is free and open to anyone in the New England. If the national results have inspired you to think about your favourite local pie, pastie, or bakery, the time is coming up fast to make your voice heard. Nominations and voting open at netimes.com.au/bitne in July.
Keep an eye on our Facebook page for nominations and results once the competition commences.
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