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Achatz Handmade Pie Co. was named as one of the “Michigan’s 50 Companies to Watch”
June 3, 2009 – 3:00 pm
Achatz Handmade Pie Co. is awarded in Lansing.
Achatz Handmade Pie Co. was named as one of the “Michigan’s 50 Companies to Watch”.
Achatz was honored April 30 in Lansing along with 49 other Michigan companies for their intent and capacity for growth, entrepreneurial leadership, creative marketing and innovation. Additionally, honorees have established businesses that are environmentally conscious, take action that are philanthropic, perform well in competitive environments, and have outstanding relationships with their employees. With such attributes, “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch” honorees are critical to transforming our economy, transcending the challenges facing our nation and preserving a high quality of life for all. To learn more about the ‘Companies to Watch’ award, please go to the Edward Lowe Foundation web site below.
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm announced the 2009 class of “Michigan’s 50 Companies to Watch” (MI 50), saying they represent the small businesses that are essential to the diversification and transformation of the state’s economy. The honorees, companies with between 6 and 99 employees that represent all regions of the state and a range of both high-tech and traditional sectors, have generated a total $1.1 billion in revenue and added more than 700 employees over the past four years.
“More than ever, we need the energy, determination and innovation that small business owners and entrepreneurs live and breathe every day as we work to diversify our economy and create jobs,” Granholm said. “We can’t forget that small businesses represent 95 percent of Michigan’s employers, and they are the backbone of our economy. I applaud these 50 companies and every small business owner who is helping to diversify Michigan’s economy by creating and sustaining all kinds of jobs for all kinds of people.”
Achatz Handmade Pie Co. grew 26% in 2008 and has planned growth for 25% in 2009, which will create 12-15 new jobs. The 20,000 sq. ft. Bake House in Chesterfield Michigan supplies fresh pies to their own six pie shops in Macomb and Oakland counties. Approximately 100 grocers and up-scale restaurants carry the Achatz Pies in southeast Michigan, Ann Arbor, Lansing and Chicago. Last year the company created a new line of frozen ‘Ready to Bake’ pies to supply the Whole Foods Market chain in the Mid-Atlantic region. “This program has helped Whole Foods Market to increase their bakery sales because of the outstanding quality of our pies”, says Dave Achatz, President and co-owner of Achatz Handmade Pie Co. “We use no hydrogenated oil or preservatives in our pies, which makes our products fit perfectly in the all natural trend.”
Purchased and used in 2008 at Achatz Pies
360,000 lbs of Michigan Apples were
225,000 lbs. Michigan Cherries
125,000 Michigan Blueberries
150,000 Michigan pastry flour
130,000 Michigan Beet sugar
Achatz Pies on GMA and the Rachael Ray Show
November 20, 2008 – 3:40 pm
It has been a flurry or excitement at Achatz Handmade Pie Co.! This past wek, with Marysol Castro visting from GMA, and all the local media that we’ve gotten has brought in so many people to our shops. We are giving away slices of our signature Michigan 4-Berry pie to every guests! And today, our Pumpkin pies were featured on the Rachael Ray Show, which has brought even more excitement for us!
Well, I believe this is the last day to cast your vote to see which pie will be named America’s “Best Slice” for the GMA challenge. Another Michigan company had won this challenge for the “Best Scoop” when GMA had asked America who had the best ice cream. Mooner’s in Traverse City won. If we win, I will call Mooner’s, see if they want to bring the ice cream, we’ll bring the pie, and we’ll go see the guys (and gal) in Lansing, to see if we can’t do something about all of these extra small business taxes that we, here in Michigan pay! Creating more jobs here in Michigan is vital right now and making it easier to invest in equipment, marketing and everything else we need to run a successful, instead of the heavy tax burdens, will make a difference in whether we can continue growth.
I was reading through all of our ‘Testimonials”, and see one from my cousin Stacey. She writes, “we’ve come along way from home, to flea market, to Good Morning America”. Yep, we’ll never forget the early days of baking a few pies from the back room of our home, loading up the old blue, setting up the 10×20 foot tent at 6 am. at the Armada Flea Market to sell pies, rain, snow, hail or sleet over the card tables! It’s been 15 years of honest hard work. And thanks to my dedicated staff and family for their hard work and perseverance, we’ve been able to purchase a great new Bake House in Chesterfield!
So now, the campainging is over, they’ll count the votes, and may the best pie win. I have been thinking of how stressed the other pie companies are feeling as well. With Thanksgiving barreling down on us, we must concentrate fully on pulling this holiday off perfectly, our busiest time of the year! The Friday Marysol Castro came out, I was driving to work with butterflies that turned into a severe stomach ache. Thought I would have to pull the car over and loose it on the side of the road! I was so nervous! I kept thinking of Michele from Michele’s pies, Audrey from The Olive Branch and Ms. Norma Grub, for they had already gone through the taping earlier that week! Had they experience these horrible butterflies? I felt sorry for my competitors…really, though I felt more connected to them, through the wonderful thing called PIE! So, good luck all, my kindred-heart fellow pie ladies! It’s been a great ride! We are all winners! Blessings,
Truly,
Wendy
Pie Extravaganza Class at Bake House
October 31, 2008 – 11:57 am
Dear Kindred-heart Pie Lovers,
My first post on our new web site! Thought I should talk about our first class, “Pie Extravaganza” that we held in our new bake house in Chesterfield last week.
About two years ago we began cooking classes in our six pie shops throughout metro Detroit and Armada. We have so many talented bakers at Achatz, we thought it would be a good idea to spread the love and knowledge of baking and share some of our tricks and tips with the public. Jean-Marc and I have taught many cooking and baking classes, “Pie Extravaganza”, “French Pasty Night”, “Holiday Cookie-Night”, and “Morning Pastries”. With our big move to our new facility last year, we hadn’t taught in awhile. Our guest have encouraged us to get going again!
Jean-Marc, Renee, Rachel and myself hosted 27 ’students’ last week. We gave them the nickel tour of our Bake House, than began our class by talking about all the wonderful varieties of Michigan baking apples that are abundant right now. Students peeled Northern Spies and Ida Reds for their apple pie. We provided an apple pie recipe, along with a good pie dough recipe. They blended the apples with cinnamon, Michigan grown pasty flour, locally grown beet sugar and pure local butter, that we always use in our Bake House!
I demonstrated how to do a basket weave for the top crust, along with techniques on fluting and crimping. We had a tons of fun and made a big mess! Thanks to my neice, Renee, my son Zack and daughter Rachel for doing all of the clean up (especially Renee!). Which reminds me, the most important thing that I hoped our students took home…the idea of ‘teaching’. I share story that we hear so often from my customers who visit our shop…lovers of excellent pie, that they have not had a pie so good since their grandmother passed (or mom, or auntie…). They tell us that no one could make a pie as good as hers. And now that she’s gone, gone is the great pie! It’s one of the greatest compliments for us at Achatz Handmade Pie Co., but I’ve learned something from these stories, and am beginning to understand that TEACHING IS IMMORTAL! So I encourage our
students to get those kids or grandkids, your sons and daughters, nieces and nephews in the kitchen with you! Sharing your recipes is only a small part of a great pie or baked good. The hand techneques, the procedures, standing side by side gramma (or grandpa) is the main thing, watching her/him! The good vibes, the TLC makes it taste that much better too! As my son Josh says, “you gotta live in the moment!”
I look forward to next weeks pie classes, Nov. 10th and 11th. Oh, and we’ll making pie with Jay Towers from Fox 2 Detroit who’ll be getting a lesson in pie making on Wednesday Nov. 5th at the Bake House in Chesterfield! We’ll be producing about 5,000 apples pies that day, and we’ll need the extra help! So be sure to watch Jay Towers on Fox 2 news Saturday morning Nov. 8th when it debuts.
Happy Eating!
Wendy
New Achatz Handmade Pie Website!
October 17, 2008 – 3:59 pm
Welcome to our new blog!
We’ve just launched our brand new website designed by Urban Media(urbanmediasc.com) out of Columbia, SC. Please send us a note to let us know what you think of our new look.
Visit our website often to learn about upcoming events, specials, and new products.
Our new online store is almost complete too! Be sure to check back with us soon and send a “sweet” greeting to someone you know.
Thanks for visiting!
