Baker’s Square, Denver, captured 23 first place wins in the commercial pie category of The American Pie Council (APC)/Crisco® National Pie Championships held last month at the Sheraton Safari Hotel and Resort in Orlando, Fla. The championships were part of the 2007 Great American Pie Festival, which took place in Celebration, Fla. April 21-22.

More than 130 of the nation’s leading commercial, professional, amateur and junior chef pie bakers entered 858 pies and competed for honors and bragging rights in their divisions.

Professional pie baker Andrea Spring, Bradenton, Fla. won “Best of Show” and $5,000, a Crisco gift basket and a Four Points by Sheraton gift box for her Gold Coast Key Lime pie.

While no best of show is traditionally awarded in the commercial division, more than 150 first place ribbons were awarded among 401 entries. Baker’s Square captured the most awards given in this division.  

In addition to the championships, festival highlights included the “Never Ending Pie Buffet,” where festival goers were invited to sample the award-winning pies from commercial bakeries, restaurants and markets, including Bakers Square and Village Inn restaurants, Publix SuperMarkets Inc., Schwan’s Bakery featuring Edwards and Mrs. Smith Pies, Bonert’s Slice of Pie, Kenny’s Great Pies, Harlan Bakeries, Sara Lee and Wick’s Pies.