South Australia’s renowned Banana Boogie Bakery has taken home the crown for Best Bakery at the 2026 Australian Small Business Champion Awards.

It comes a short six months after the bakery won Best Bakery at the Greater Adelaide Local Business Awards in late 2025.

After a stellar few years, the accolades are piling up for Banana Boogie Bakery owners Jason and Kelly Spencer, who say that this award is one they’re particularly proud of.

“It was a little bit surreal. You know, we’re going in with high expectations, because we’re up against some other great bakeries across Australia, and when we got shortlisted, we were kind of surprised, and went, let’s see how we go,” Jason said.

Jason told Nine News he even asked ChatGPT what their chances of winning were – apparently, they were pretty high.

“They did the champion awards last year in South Australia for the first time. So, we actually won that one, and then we found out about the national one. And, yeah, we decided to put our hat in the ring, and next thing you know, we won,” Jason said.

“It was pretty much based across every [aspect of the business]. Like they sent a mystery shopper to, you know, check service and check products.

“We had to do a pretty in-depth essay about our business as well, to let them know about how we’ve gotten where we are. We talked about where we started – selling banana bread out of a van at the markets – and how we got our first store… and then how that store turned into three shops, and then another shop. So it was really explaining how we’ve improved as a small business.

“We’ve won best sausage roll few times, won best vanilla slice, best hot cross bun. But that’s more emphasized on the bakers and how we go about our craft, whereas this is for the whole business. It’s our managers, our front of house; it’s a big team effort. So, it’s that little bit more special.”

Jason says the opportunity to grow Banana Boogie Bakery over the years has been incredible, and Adelaide locals are surely very grateful too.

“It’s a great community spot for everyone in the area to hang out,” Jason said.