Bakers across New Zealand have just over a week left to enter this year’s Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards, with entries closing at 5pm on June 24.

Wholesale and retail bakers are being urged to get their submissions in, with organisers saying in a media release that interest is already strong but there is still time to take part in the national competition.

Entry is free, and bakers can register via the competition website. Categories cater to a wide range of businesses, including a Cafe Boutique section for those using store-bought pastry, alongside nine categories for those making their own pastry, such as mince and cheese, steak and cheese, potato top, gourmet meat and vegetarian.

Large-scale producers are also eligible, with wholesale bakeries producing 60,000 or more pies in a week able to enter the commercial category, where mince and cheese pies are judged.

The awards offer bakers the chance to have their pies independently blind-judged against their peers, while also providing a marketing boost through in-store promotion, social media and local media exposure.

Prizemoney is also on offer, with each gold award winner receiving $1000, and the overall Supreme winner taking home an additional $7500.

NZ Bakels managing director Brent Kersel said the awards, now in their 28th year, have grown into one of the country’s largest food competitions.

“The competition set out to improve the quality of our pies, but it has gone far beyond that and helped build strong reputations for winning bakers,” he said.

Winners often experience long-term business benefits, with successful bakeries becoming destinations for pie lovers, including visitors travelling from around New Zealand and overseas.