Who bought all the pies? NZ's richest family expands food empire

Harry Hart's Walter & Wild said it had agreed to buy I Love Food Co. Photo / Supplied

Harry Hart's Walter & Wild said it had agreed to buy I Love Food Co - which has brands such as I Love Pies and I Love Baking for an undisclosed sum.

I Love Food Co has brands in New Zealand supermarkets and exports products to Asia and the Pacific.

In a statement, Hart, son of New Zealand's richest man Graeme Hart, said I Love Food Ltd founders Maree Glading and Jessie Stanley will be taking up new roles at Walter & Wild.

Glading said that Walter & Wild was is a dynamic company with a broad fast moving consumer goods portfolio.

"We see an enormous potential for the 'I Love' brand in our existing product categories and across the broader Walter and Wild portfolio," Glading said.

Harry Hart. Photo / File

Stanley said that since launching the I Love Pies brand ten years ago at the Clevedon Farmer's Market, the company has gone on to be stocked in supermarkets across New Zealand and exported further afield.

"Our focus has always been on creating good food for busy families, with real ingredients, and we will continue to do this," she said.

Walter and Wild's brands include Alfa One, Aunt Betty's, Greggs, Hansells, Hubbards, Thriftee, Teza and Vitafresh.

The sale process to be complete by the beginning of next month.

The ultimate owners of Walter and Wild are Harry Hart and his father Graeme.