The New Zealand Vegan Pie Awards

Celebrating the craft and skill of Vegan Piemakers throughout Aotearoa.

Welcome to New Zealand’s Vegan Pie Competition 2022

The New Zealand Supreme Vegan Pie Awards recognises and honours 8 award-winning vegan pies from around New Zealand.

The Vegan Society Aotearoa is holding our fifth annual Vegan Pie Awards in October and we are looking for the best vegan pies to enter with $1000 in prize money up for grabs!!

As well as publicity and the kudos of making some of the best vegan pies in NZ for our category award winners, there’s a $1000 prize for the Supreme winner!

And this year it is FREE to enter!

Making vegan pies is just as easy as making meat pies, all it requires is a change of ingredients. Most ingredients for vegan pies are easily found in your usual shopping places.

Who will be this year’s Supreme Winner? It could be anyone and newcomers have as much chance as the “old hands”.

2022 NZ Vegan Pie Awards

This year’s awards will be held in Auckland on October 31st.

The pie categories are:

Vegan Steak and Vegan Cheese – base paste bottom, and a flaky pastry on top
Vegan Mince and Vegan Cheese – base paste bottom, and a flaky pastry on top
Vegan Chicken – base paste bottom, and a flaky pastry on top
Sweet pie – short crust pastry
Vegetable – base paste bottom, and a flaky pastry on top
Café boutique – any sort of pastry, shape, open or closed
Gluten Free – any sort of pastry, shape, open or closed
Commercial – base paste bottom, and a flaky pastry on top
Plus a Supreme Award!

Meet the Judges - NZ Vegan Pie Awards 2022

Aaron Pucci

Aaron Pucci has clocked up 25 years in the food and beverage manufacturing industry.

His trusted palate has earned him numerous seats on judging panels for awards in New Zealand and Australia over 15 years.

Aaron is always on the lookout for new brands and products ~ especially those that are breaking new ground.

Aaron’s ‘food for thought’ is a desire for more manufacturers to take up the challenge of sustainable food operations and reducing their carbon footprint.

Jasbir (jazz) Kaur)

Multi-award-winning executive chef & trainer, TV personality, creative head and chef of the new series “Ignite the Chef in You” and President of the NZ Chef Association Auckland, Chef Jazz is an external verifier for City and Guilds, UK.

She has been judging in New Zealand’s Regional and National culinary salon competitions for the past nine years and is deputy chief judge for the Hospitality Championships.

She has worked in top hotels and restaurants in five countries – USA, UK, India, New Zealand and Spain.

Tom Sainsbury

Funny guy, snap chat dude and vegan sausage connoisseur!

Seasoned judge of past Vegan Society sausage awards, Tom returns to the scene as guest judge at this year’s Vegan Pie Awards, to help out with the huge volume of pies we have entered!

Tom takes vegan food very seriously and he brings to the table his acute palate, sharp wit and eager appetite!

Brad Jacobs

Lifelong vegetarian and seasoned hand at eating and judging vegan pies – LOTS of vegan pies – we welcome back to the judging table-the engaging and the affable entrepreneur and co-owner of The Coffee Club, Brad Jacobs.

Brad has been with The Coffee Club for 25 years working across a range of roles, originally starting as a wash up boy in Cairns, North Queensland.

He is very passionate about The Coffee Club brand, the franchising industry and the retail market. This competition would not be the same without Brad.

Jason Hay

The almighty and formidable vegan Pie maker and multi-award winning baker, Jason Hay of Richoux Patisserie – Judge Jason!

Jason entered the Vegan Pie awards in 2018 having known about ‘vegan’ for all of 2 weeks! He jumped in heart and soul to our first competition and he aced it, winning every category he entered!

Jason reports his business improved by 40% since the addition of vegan options. Half his business is now vegan! Thanks Jason, you’re a great sport and well loved by the vegan community!