Award-winning West Coast pie business in liquidation

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

The Beter Pie Company, which operates under the name West Coast Pie Company, has gone into liquidation over outstanding taxes.

Award-winning Westport business The Better Pie Company has been put into liquidation over outstanding taxes.

The company has operated under the name West Coast Pie Company, making and selling meat pies with wild game fillings.

It is majority owned by local businesswoman Emily Lucas, with four minority shareholders.

Emily Lucas of West Coast Pie Co says trading has become difficult during the year.

The Better Pie Company Ltd was put into the hands of a liquidator on June 16 at the request of its shareholders.

On the same day, Lucas incorporated a new company, The Wild Foods Co Ltd, of which she is the sole shareholder. She also owns Waikari Outpost Ltd and BPC Cafe, which run the business’s bakery and Palmerston St cafe respectively.

The first liquidator’s report, which will include details of creditors and sums owed, has not been released.

Venison pies being made at the West Coast Pie Company in 2020.

In a statement on the business’s website, Lucas said the liquidation follows “an extended negotiation period with Inland Revenue”.

“The company’s directors made the very difficult decision to place the business into voluntary liquidation and are fully co-operating throughout the process.”

Prior to the liquidation, they had “bucked trends” with strong growth and successful summer trading, she said.

“However, like many businesses across hospitality and retail, we have faced an increasingly difficult trading environment over the past year.”

Press reporter Martin van Beynen enjoys a West Coast Pie Company product during his 2020 ‘Crust to Crust’ tour.

This included several months’ disruption from construction outside the store, said Lucas.

“We are now transitioning through a planned restructure with our focus toward the future and preserving value across the widest group of stakeholders.

“This includes protecting jobs where possible, maintaining key supplier relationships, and ensuring continuity for our customers and stockists while responding to the strong ongoing demand for our products.”