Turns out the Best Holiday Pies Actually Come from a Hardware Store

On my morning walk to the Clement Street Farmers Market, I passed a local ACE Hardware and noticed a neon sign in the window that read “pies” in captivating red cursive. At first, I thought it meant that the shop was selling bulbs for the fixtures, but as my time living in Northern California wore on, I started seeing those same signs hanging in front of home improvement hubs in Calistoga, Point Reyes, Novato, and even Walnut Creek. It turns out the tempting signage is actually advertising frozen take-and-bake fruit pies made by a local producer called The Pie Company based in Ripon, California. 

In a stroke of genius, the NorCal baker added end caps stocked with frozen pies in shops more often filled with lumber, screws, and garden supplies. And they’re a perfect grab-and-go go-to for holiday desserts, potlucks and hosting gifts. Or, you know, just a good old fashioned impulse buy to treat yourself after a long week.

Iain Bagwell

The Pie Company has been baking since 2008, and specializes in classic flavors made simply. Their offerings include Mixed Berry, Peach, Nectarine, Apricot, and of course both Apple and Dutch Apple. Their offerings are pre-baked and sold at 62 retail locations across Northern California. 

Not only are the pies far superior to options you might find in your grocery store, they’re incredibly handy for last-minute gatherings. The dough is wonderfully flaky and is particularly pretty when brushed with an egg wash and dusted with some caster sugar for added gloss. 

For hardware-store operators, these pies are more than novelty. Frozen pies don’t need the same shelf-space or refrigeration requirements as fresh bakery items, but still offer a comforting, high-margin product that appeals to impulse shoppers or those planning dinners. Plus it’s a way for the businesses, many of which are family-owned, to draw in foot traffic in the Amazon era. And do so deliciously, too.