It may be December, but bakers are already thinking about the 2026 Pie Awards and what they’re going enter.

Now bakers can add to their chances of winning, with the return of NZ Bakels’ Legendary Sausage Roll competition in 2026.

“We’ve been really surprised about how enthusiastic and determined bakers have been this year since the Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards in July,” NZ Bakels managing director Brent Kersel said.

“They talk about the awards all the time and they’re already testing filling flavours. We think with this amount of interest, it seems like the right timing to bring back the Legendary Sausage Roll competition and see if we can boost the quality of New Zealand’s second-most-sold bakery item.”

Kersel said sausage rolls were again climbing in popularity globally.

“We want our local bakers to make their mark.

“They’ve done that through the Pie Awards and everyone now knows our bakers make the best pies in the world. Can they make the best sausage roll? Let’s see.”

High-stakes prizes are up for grabs. Photo / Supplied

“And we haven’t forgotten the apprentice bakers,” Kersel said.

“They too have the chance to gain recognition by entering the Apprentice Pie Maker Awards in 2026.”

The winner will attend the Pie Awards night to receive their award.

The Legendary Sausage Roll competition launched in 2020 to lift the standard of sausage rolls, much like the Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards have done.

In 2020, Patrick Lam, of Patrick’s Pies in Tauranga (the eight-times winner of the Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards), won the inaugural competition.

In 2023, Samraksmey So, of Rosedale Bakery in Auckland, took home the Legendary Sausage Roll Award.

Discussions are underway to decide whether a gourmet category will be added to the traditional sausage roll category for 2026.

-Supplied content by NZ Bakels