Chances are, if you were eating a pie in colonial America, it would have been a savory, meat-based pastry. And the first pumpkin pie was found in a cookbook as early as 1675. America has always had a love affair with pie, which is celebrated in February as Great American Pie Month.

Great American Pie Month has been around since 1990, but pie itself goes back more than 1,000 years. Ancient Egyptians filled bread dough with honey, fruit and nuts, a concoction that was served to Pharaohs, as is depicted on the tomb walls of Ramses II.

Pies and holidays have always gone hand in hand. In fact, Independence Day is one of the most popular days to bake and eat pie. Soldiers in World War II told journalists that they were fighting for “mom and apple pie.” Apple pie has been a symbol of American culture since the turn of the 20th century, and today 36 million Americans say apple pie is their favorite.

According to the American Pie Council, about $700 million in pies — about 186 million of them — are sold in grocery stores every year. This figure includes only grocery stores and not restaurants, food service or price clubs. If you lined up the number of pies sold at U.S. grocery stores in one year, they would circle the globe and then some, according to the group.

Pie baking is also a very popular hobby in the U.S. And those who bake them are serious about their work. Many discerning bakers turn to Williams-Sonoma (Tii:WSM) for specialized bakeware and tools. Bakers can choose from a range of helpful tools that make pie-making easier, like a Williams-Sonoma French Tapered Olivewood Rolling Pin for making piecrust, the 10 Piece Glass Mixing Bowl Set, or the Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch Tart Pan with Removable Bottom.

The company's specialization as a destination for home chefs has made it popular among retail shareholders as well. In 1956, its founder, Chuck Williams, turned a passion for cooking and eating with friends into a small business with a big idea. He opened a store in Sonoma, California, to sell the French cookware that intrigued him while visiting Europe but that could not be found in America. In the decades that followed, the quality of its products has facilitated the company's expansion beyond the kitchen into nearly every area of the home. Today, Williams-Sonoma is one of the country's largest e-commerce retailers. The company operates retail stores in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and franchises its brands to third parties in several countries in the Middle East, the Philippines and Mexico. Products are also available to customers through our catalogs and online worldwide.

For pie bakers, Williams-Sonoma is a must-visit destination. There are many specialized tools for decorating pie pastry. The Lattice Pie Crust Cutter is an easy way to create a perfect lattice crust to top a pie. Bakers can decorate their crusts for the holidays with individual shapes. The Williams-Sonoma Holiday Pie Punches come in decorative shapes like hearts for Valentine’s Day and stars for Independence Day. The company also has several dishes made for special occasions, like the Emile Henry French Ceramic Ruffle Heart Pie Dish.

Williams-Sonoma carries a number of products exclusive to its stores. The Pillivuyt Porcelain Company appeals to the specialty baker. The company has been in business since 1818, is one of the last manufacturers to continue to manufacture 100% of their products in France, and is known as a supplier to royalty. Williams-Sonoma offers specialty pie makers from Pillivuyt, the Porcelain Pie Dish and the Toulouse Porcelain Tart Dish.

Bakeware at Williams-Sonoma is inspiring and appeals to the baker who wants to serve comforting bakes, too. Pocket Pie Molds come in a variety of forms and are perfect for picnics, barbecues and lunch boxes. The molds can be used with sweet or savory fillings. And for the 47% of Americans who associate the word “comforting” with pie, what could be better than a pie you could hold in your hands?

For bakers who love pie and specialty bakes but would like to serve something special, Williams-Sonoma offers both savory and sweet pies made by the Southern Baked Pie Company. Amanda Wilbanks, founder of the company, makes her pies using local ingredients and beloved family recipes. Customers can order pies from the Southern Baked Pie Company that will be delivered to their homes.

90% of Americans agree that a slice of pie represents one of the simple pleasures in life, and for bakers who enjoy making pies and individual investors looking to tap into the market, Williams-Sonoma has much to offer.