Not Bacon Wins Supreme

Tuesday, 24 June 2025, 6:45 am
Press Release: The Vegan Society Aotearoa New Zealand

The Supreme Winner of the seventh annual Vegan Sausage and Deli Meats Awards is Let Them Eat Vegan ‘Not Bacon’. The judges said it had “Great crispy texture. Good visually - layers and colour. Great umami and depth of flavour. Shows a very good skill level.” This could be a game changer for all those bacon lovers out there.

“We were so excited to have the deli meats categories, which recognise the quality and care that goes into producing great plant-based alternatives for all meat products. It’s really awesome that a vegan bacon is the Supreme Winner! Maybe people can give up eating pigs after all? With the rising cost of living, eating plants will always be a good thing, providing healthier foods with lower emissions, helping to look after our planet” said Media Spokesperson, Claire Insley.

This year’s judges were versatile private chef Ezra Wisaksono, and seasoned Executive Chef at Sudima Auckland Airport, Rodney Gomes put the plant-based meats to the test. Joining them were Lifetime Achievement Pie Winner, Judge Jason Hay and sausage loving comedian Tom Sainsbury, putting their taste buds through the paces to come up with the final results.

The full results are:

Supreme Winner
Let Them Eat Vegan ‘Not Bacon’
Judges said: Great crispy texture. Good visually - layers and colour. Great umami and depth of flavour. Shows a very good skill level

Chorizo
Winner Plan*t: ‘Spicy Chorizo’
Judges said: A perfect sausage - shape, crust, texture, mouth feel and flavour.

Runner up Witty Tui ‘Spicy Chorizo Style’
Judges said: it’s got a good kick, good spice. Great appearance with visible spicy specks’

Bangers
Winner Beach Pizza ‘Wors Style Sausage’
Judges said: Unique, bold flavour in a well-constructed sausage.

Runner Up Plan*t ‘Spicy Chorizo’
Judges said: Delicious flavour and profile with a great mouth feel.

Breakfast Sausage
Winner Plan*t ‘Tasty Sage and Onion’
Judges said: Great texture with optimal balance of spice.

Runner up Blissful’s CK Food ‘Mini Soy Roll’
Judges said: Well-crafted with a good spongy texture.

Speciality Sausage
Winner Blissful’s Whole Perfect Food ‘Vegetarian Smoked Sausage’
Judges said: Fantastic construction, texture and taste.

Runner up Plan*t ‘Spicy Chorizo’
Judges said: Great mouth feel, flavour and profile.

Sausage Rolls
Winner Goodtime Pie ‘Vegan Sausage Roll’
Judges said: Great crispy pastry. The texture of the filling is very good. Nice balanced flavour and spice.

Runner up
Kai Pai ‘Vegan Sausage Roll’
Judges said: Good texture and mouth feel. Good bite.

Bacon
Winner Let Them Eat Vegan ‘Not Bacon’
Judges said: Great crispy texture. Good visually - layers and colour. Great umami and depth of flavour. Shows a very good skill level.

No Runner up

Cold Cuts
Winner Grater Goods ‘Sopressata’
Judges said: Nice chew with a hint of lingering warm spice. Great sausage texture with pepper, chilly and fat inclusions. Great mouth feel and balanced taste.

Runner up
Blissful’s Whole Perfect Food ‘Traditional Style Vegetarian Ham
Judges said: Nice maple sweetness. Tastes very close to ham with a great colour.

Pastrami
Winner Grater Goods ‘Plant Pastrami’
Judges said: Great smoky, sweet, sour and umami flavours. Perfectly seasoned.

No runner up

Hot-served Meat Style
Winner Blissful’s CK Food ‘Crispy Chicken Drumsticks’
Judges said ‘Nice crunch. Good texture and spice. Juicy and soft with a moreish flavour

Runner up Plan*t ‘Vege-to-balls’
Judges said: Nice bite and crumbly texture. The flavour is great and very close to the meat version.

Patties
Winner Plan*t ‘Classic Grillhouse’
Judges said: A great burger- tender, juicy, with a strong punch flavour.

Runner up Beach Pizza ‘Wors Burger Patty’
Judges said, Impactful flavour with great herbs and spices.

Seafood Style
Winner Blissful’s ‘Vegan Fried Squid Rings’
Judges said: Good texture and chewiness with a very calamari flavour. Very balanced.

Runner up Blissful’s CK Food ‘Vegan Bites’
Judges said: Very good mild, crab-like flavour.

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