The New Zealand Vegan Sausage Awards
Celebrating the craft and skill of Vegan sausage makers throughout Aotearoa.

Who doesn’t love a breakfast banger? A summer sausage sizzle?
In 2019 we brought you the first of our Awards to celebrate the humble vegan sausage. We had an amazing array of competitors from home and abroad, showcasing their sausages, hotdogs and sausage rolls. Our 2020 Awards were even more popular and our third and fourth awards in 2021 and 2022 once again produced some surprising winners!
Calling all sausage makers!
Registration is open for the 5th Vegan Sausage Awards
For the fifth time, our annual vegan Sausage Awards are being held – at the end of June in Auckland. This year we have added two new categories:
Deli Meats – Pastrami
Deli Meats – Other
Now we can choose amongst pastrami, ham, bacon, cutlets, turkey slices, and whatever other vegan deli meats are available in New Zealand.
As always, we welcome entries from all over the world although entries must be available to buy in Aotearoa.
If you think your favourite sausage or deli meat should be entering, let them know about our awards now!
If you make sausages or deli meats of any kind, register now for your chance to win a category or even receive the Supreme Sausage award!
NB Deli Meat categories are not part of the Supreme Award – yet!
Keep on improving and increasing product lines and our awards will reflect those increased options.
Have a look at last year’s winners. Which is your favourite?
- Breakfast
- Banger
- Hotdog
- Sausage roll
- Speciality
- Chorizo
- NEW! Deli Meat – Pastrami
- NEW! Deli Meat – All types
- Supreme
Meet the Judges 2023 (and check back soon for updates)
Helping us discover the best vegan bangers in NZ!




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.
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.
Volker has worked around the globe in Germany, Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia, Estonia and now New Zealand. He has been Cordis Auckland’s Executive Chef since 2009 and has helped the hotel navigate many changes, as well as planning for an increase in demand with an additional 244 rooms in our Pinnacle Tower and banqueting rooms accommodating up to 1,300 guests. In this role Volker manages a brigade of over 60 chefs and retention and colleague satisfaction is higher than the industry average in this team.
Developing the award winning concept of Eight Restaurant, Cordis Auckland’s High Tea is recognised as one of the best in New Zealand and Volker designs, creates and delivers the menu for this, with a new offering each quarter.
Reporter, news presenter and foodie
Mike’s strategy is to aim for the stomach; feed people good vegan food and the converts are sure to follow. Mike derives immense satisfaction from cooking and feeding others. He has picked up loads of new culinary skills now that he’s preparing vegan food.
Judge for the second time at the Vegan Sausage Awards Mike is getting himself mentally and physically prepared!
Photos from Vegan Sausage Awards 2022
The Vegan Sausage Awards in the Media:
Check out the links below to see what others said about the 2022 winners: