Troubled fast food franchise chain Pie Face is apparently in talks with supermarket giant Woolworths about selling frozen product in an effort to cut back production costs and increase sales of its smiley-faced pies.

According to Fairfax media, 15 stores are already trialling pie packs and a decision on whether to develop this strategy further is expected early in 2015. The report suggests this is one of several strategies being considered.

High cost of goods and costly rents have been cited as possible causes for the collapse of Pie Face which owed creditors more than $20 million when it went into voluntary administration at the end of November.

There is apparently a review of the production process at the Rosehill factory in an effort to cut costs for franchisees.

A creditors’ meeting was held on Wednesday 3 December following a virtual meeting the week before for franchisees. According to Jirsch Sutherland, the administrator, franchisees who are also creditors were able to attend yesterday’s meeting. A date of 30 December has been set for the next creditors’ meeting.

Read more about the voluntary administration, store closures, and how Pie Face got into hot water.