Patrick’s Pies Gold Star Bakeries are selling more than 300 sausage rolls a day after taking second place in a national competition, more than double their usual sales.

Owner Patrick Lam, who has Patrick’s Pies bakeries in Bethlehem, Tauriko and Rotorua, said he was thrilled to return to the podium at the 2026 Bakels Legendary Sausage Roll competition after winning its inaugural title in 2021.

“We come back for the silver; we’re so happy for that.”

He said the result has boosted business. Lam usually made about 140 sausage rolls a day, but since the award was announced, demand has more than doubled.

“We make over 300 and still gone.

“It’s good for social media that gives us the publicity.”

Lam finished second behind Bunnarith Sao of Dairy Flat Bakery in Auckland, who won the title by three points in the final judging round.

More than 300 of the sausage rolls are now selling daily.

More than 200 sausage rolls were judged at NZ Bakels in Christchurch on October 1.

NZ Bakels managing director Brent Kersel said judges were looking for flaky, golden pastry with a good sheen, alongside a well-seasoned filling made from beef, lamb, pork or a combination of the three.

Onion was essential, and bakers could add other vegetables or seeds. Cheese was not permitted.

“Basically, a traditional sausage roll would fit in at any party, social gathering or simply as a delicious snack any time of day.”

Lam said the quality of his pastry and meat, along with the combination of ingredients, helped his sausage rolls stand out.

“I think our pastry is really good, and also our meat, the quality of the meat, and also our recipe, the ingredients. I think they come out very, very good combination.”

Awards from national baking competitions line the wall at Patrick Lam's bakery. Photo / Kelly O'Hara

He said customer feedback had been encouraging, with people regularly returning to tell him how much they enjoyed the sausage rolls.

The recipe has remained unchanged since his 2021 win.

“I think mainly just the pastry and also the sausage meat; make sure we use the good-quality meat, and make sure that it’s not too overpowering for the flavour.”

Lam and his family settled in New Zealand in 1997 after fleeing Cambodia and spending time in a refugee camp in Vietnam before moving to Australia.

He learned to bake while working with his brother-in-law, before starting his own business that same year.

Lam has won eight Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards since opening his bakery in 1997.

Patrick Lam (second from right) winning the supreme award in 2023.

He won his first Supreme Best Pie title in 2003 with a mince and cheese entry and his eighth in 2023 for a roast duck, onion and mushroom pie in the gourmet meat category.

The award-winning pie proved popular, and more than 200 sold the day after the win.

In 2023, Lam told the Rotorua Daily Post winning the Supreme Pie Award had come as “a big surprise” after previous attempts to enter the roast duck flavour had been unsuccessful.

He credited the Bakels competition with providing valuable publicity for the business and said the award meant “a lot” to his team.

Pat Lam’s supreme winning pies

2023 – Roast duck, onion and mushrooms

2019 – Mince and cheese

2018 – Roast pork, mushroom and cheese

2016 – Bacon and egg

2010 – Bacon and egg

2009 – Creamy bacon, mushroom and cheese

2004 – Mince and cheese

2003 – Mince and cheese

 Zoe Blake is a multimedia journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post.