Pie Face has boosted sales for catering by adopting a third-party online ordering system, according to Inside Retailing Online.

The Sydney-based franchised retailer of gourmet pies now has nearly 50 stores and has been named by BRW as one of the fastest-growing companies in Australia.

In December 2010 Pie Face won the Big Kahuna Award at the Anthill’s Cool Company Awards, which acknowledges Australian organisations “that are doing things differently to bring about positive change”.

Inside Retailing Online said that a key part of Pie Face’s growth was expanding its offer of home take-out and corporate catering solutions – fulfilling bulk orders for pies for business meetings or domestic parties.

Co-owner Wayne Homschek told Inside Retailing Online the company has found that most customers prefer using an online system for reasons of convenience and the ability to manage numerous department and division orders.

As a result of implementing the online system, Pie Face has seen its average transaction value for catering orders rise to $159 (compared to $9 instore) and sales are up three-fold on a year ago and continue to grow.