Resurgence in Popularity
New Zealand Broadcasting School students Drew Chappell and Gareth Thorne started a Facebook group calling for the return of Georgie Pie. In September 2008, as part of a documentary known as "Bring Back the George", they temporarily converted a Christchurch bakery into the restaurant and sold pies made with the same recipe as the originals. All of their pies were sold in less than an hour, with people coming from as far as Auckland to get one. "Bring Back Georgie Pie" badges and T-shirts were available from a Wellington-based "Kiwiana" retailer until McDonald's identified intellectual property concerns and requested that their manufacture cease.
Recently, a shop began selling pies by the name "GP Pies" opened in Kelston, West Auckland. McDonald's announced they were looking into possible copyright infringement of the name. They also announced they were looking into relaunching the Georgie Pie brand, not as a stand-alone shop, but possibly inside McDonald's outlets as a McCafe offering.
In May 2009, July 2011, and as recently as April 2012 media reports indicated that McDonald's New Zealand (the current trademark holder) is investigating a reopening of the brand. Nationwide radio station ZM even offered McDonald's $50,000 worth of free advertising if the stores were to reopen before the end of 2009.
Very occasionally, genuine Georgie Pies come onto the market usually through New Zealand auction site Trademe. On November 30, 2010, a genuine fruit Georgie Pie was offered for auction to the highest bidder.
In July 2012 a young man has been collecting signatures around the country for his Bring Back Georgie Pie Petition. He has also set up an online petition and a Facebook page.
Read more about this topic: Georgie Pie
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