Coasties, get ready to indulge in the best bacon and ham in the country!

The 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Awards have announced this year's top producers, with Cameron Harrison Butchery in Upper Hutt taking out the Supreme Award for their Honey Cured Streaky Bacon and Sam's Butchery in Silverdale winning the Supreme Award for their Mini Champagne Ham.

Ian Anderson from Sam’s Butchery says it's incredibly humbling for Sam and the team to receive this accolade. “It’s a trifecta for us – we’ve previously won the Supreme Bacon and Supreme Sausage titles, and now we have the Supreme Ham. We are beyond thrilled and extremely happy.”

Judging took place over three days, involving a team of butchers and culinary experts who inspected and sampled bacon and ham products made from 100% New Zealand pork.

Medals were awarded across seven bacon categories and three ham categories, with category champions re-judged to determine the supreme winners.

Chef judge Jess Granada, owner of Nanam in Takapuna, emphasised the importance of flavour balance in the winning products. “I was looking for that harmony of flavour where I could taste the pork itself with a balance of sweet, salty, and slight acidity,” she said.

Veteran judge Todd Treadwell from Well Hung Butchery in Milford noted the rising standards of entries.

“Retailers are taking pride in what they are making which is great news for the public,” he said. “The winning products had the best flavour with excellent moisture content which left you wanting more.”

In addition to the expert panel, the public cast over 7,500 votes for their favourite bacon and ham retailer via an online judging portal.

The People’s Choice award went to The Aussie Butcher New Lynn in Auckland for their popular bacon and ham products.

Chef Jess Granada offered a cooking tip for perfect bacon: use a cast iron pan at the right temperature.

Todd Treadwell advised that nothing beats freshly sliced ham off the bone.