Press Releases
Grand Traverse Pie Company
Soon To Serve Up "Better-For-You" Pie!
GTPC Goes Trans Fat FREE!
(Traverse City, Michigan) – May, 2007 – Grand Traverse Pie Company plans on celebrating Memorial Day weekend by unveiling its completely Trans Fat free menu at most of its franchise locations.
Mike Busley, founder and president of GTP Franchising, LLC has found the perfect blend of oils and fats that are a healthier alternative to the partially hydrogenated oils used in making its famous pie crust. "Our pie crust is the discriminator of many of the menu items offered the Grand Traverse Pie Company. For that reason we think it is important to find the perfect blend of non-trans fat ingredients to make our pies, quiche, pot pies, and egg buddies. It's the smart thing to do for our customers whom we value day in, and day out." Stated Busley.
By working hand-in-hand with Northwestern Michigan College's Great Lakes Culinary Institute director and master chef Fred Laughlin, Busley and his culinary crew have tested by recipe standards, and taste tested several variations of the crust – all using trans fat free products. A "real life" learning experience for the culinary students and apprentice chefs at GLCI, the project has been met with enthusiasm.
The real news during Memorial Day weekend, will be in the "proof of the pie" as visitors to the destination Pie Company will enjoy, for the first time, a slice of Grand Traverse Pie Company's fruit or cream pie made with a completely trans fat free recipe.
Visitors to any GTPC will always smell the aromas flowing from the open air, from-scratch kitchen, immediately. But this summer season, favorites like traditional Michigan Cherry, Apple, and Blueberry Pie will make their mark on the food industry by being one of America's favorite comfort foods, while being a healthier choice.
The Food and Drug Administration has urged restaurants to promote healthier foods by becoming trans fat free. Like the Grand Traverse Pie Company, and its nine franchise locations (soon to be a dozen or more by the end of 2007), chains like Starbucks, Chilis's Grill & Bar, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Romano's Macaroni Grill, and even the Disney theme parks are all moving to a trans fat free approach to dining.
Trans fat is noted to increase the risk of heart disease, and also decreases the "good" (HDL) cholesterol in blood. Trans fat is often found in vegetable shortenings, some margarines, and food prepared with partially hydrogenated oils. Busley is pleased to announce the use of non-trans fat alternatives in the menu at the Grand Traverse Pie Company without compromising the taste and texture of its famous crust found at every GTPC location.
Visitors to the destination café, famous for its cherry pie, will experience all of the usual sights and sensations of an active "real food" kitchen. Additionally, visitors will now have the comfort of knowing that the entire café menu, including salads, sandwiches, wraps, and the over 50 varieties of GTPC pie is entirely trans fat free.
Nine GTPC Franchise locations include:
- Ann Arbor (734) 997-7902.
- Brighton (810) 225-7437
- Mt. Pleasant (989) 779-2743
- Norton Shores (231) 799-3399
- Okemos (517) 381-7437
- Petoskey (231) 348-4060
- Sterling Heights (586) 323-2743
- Traverse City (231) 922-7437
Coming Soon...
- Terre Haute, Indiana
- Grand Rapids, Michigan – 28th Street
