Peter Harris from Lucas Brothers Butchers won gold at the Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) awards for its traditional ham on the bone.

Mr Harris said it was a massive accolade for the "small country butchers" which was up against prominent city butchers and long-time producers.

He said it was a credit to his staff who were passionate about making a unique product. "We've only done it for two years," Mr Harris said.

"We're only new to it and we were up against people who have been doing it for the last 50 years. It's a massive effort to be judged the best ham in Victoria."

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Sourced from Otway Pork, the ham is sold under Lucas Brothers Butchers' Great Ocean Road Smallgoods label, which has grown to include bacon, flavoured cabana, kransky, pastrami, hot dogs and strasbourg and is stocked at south-west and Surf Coast retailers.

The butchers won bronze for their chilli and garlic metwurst, and pork Italian Casalinga sausage at the Victorian AMIC awards.

Since opening in Banyan Street three years ago, the business has doubled and gone from employing nine staff to 20. Sales have increased by 40 per cent in the past 18 months.

"During the pandemic it was crazy times," he said. "We made sure we didn't run out of meat. There was nothing on the shelves at the supermarket and that's where I think people realised how important the butcher was."

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