Sara Lee Frozen Bakery announced its Chef Pierre pie brand will commemorate 100 years of quality pie baking at the 2022 National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Michigan. Celebrating nearly 60 years and over 6 billion pies baked at its Traverse City bakery, Chef Pierre’s sponsorship at this year’s National Cherry Festival is a tribute to the community.

The National Cherry Festival will feature colorful parades, free air shows, nightly music concerts and competitive events for all ages. This year, Chef Pierre will sponsor the Cherry Pie Eating Contests throughout the festival week from July 2-9 and will donate approximately 600 cherry pies – 5,000 cherry pie slices. Every cherry pie consumed during this year’s pie eating contests will be a Chef Pierre cherry pie.

“We are honored to celebrate this milestone, 100-year anniversary of baking our wide variety of specialty pies for the nation,” says Craig Bahner, chief executive officer of Sara Lee Frozen Bakery. “Chef Pierre pies have long been the center of family dinners, holiday traditions, and desserts in American homes and restaurants. Sara Lee Frozen Bakery and the Traverse City bakery have been committed to this community.”

The Chef Pierre bakery was formerly the little Atlantic Pie Company, founded in 1922 by Greek immigrant Chris Dendrinos. In 1988, Chef Pierre merged with Kitchens of Sara Lee and is now the leading brand of foodservice pie.