Latest news with #ScottishCraftButchers
Scottish Sun
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Little-known Scottish butchers wins top award with item judges ‘had never seen before'
The business landed the ultimate Diamond Award in the 'Make It With Haggis' category at the Scottish Craft Butchers awards UPPER CRUST Little-known Scottish butchers wins top award with item judges 'had never seen before' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SMALL town butcher shop has scooped a top award for their quirky twist on a popular pastry. Donald Gilmour in Kingussie, Highlands, has been recognised for their haggis quiche. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Donald Gilmour Butchers scooped a top award for its haggis quiche Credit: Google Maps The business landed the ultimate Diamond Award in the 'Make It With Haggis' category at the Scottish Craft Butchers awards. The pastry impressed judges, who hadn't seen haggis quiche before. The pastry was created three years ago in a bid to appeal to people visiting Kingussie. But the meaty quiche has grown in popularity and become a hit with locals and tourists alike. The concoction is a cheese quiche filling with haggis mixed through it. Mr Gilmour hailed the award and said he was delighted to collect the gong. He told the P&J: "I came up with the recipe to extend our haggis season beyond Burns Night and give the tourists something a wee bit different. 'I decided to enter it for the evaluation competition. I never for a moment thought that it would take the top award. I'm absolutely delighted. 'This is basically a cheese quiche mixture in a pastry case with haggis through it. 'I feel very honoured to lift this prestigious award for something so simple. I like it, our customers like it, the tourists like it. World's best Scotch pie & haggis revealed as butcher scoops championship double crown "Now it's fantastic to know that the Scottish judges at the SCB event like it too.' Mr Gilmour and his team are hoping winning the award will encourage more people to visit the shop and give the haggis quiche a try. Jason Ward, general manager of event sponsors John Scott Meat, said: 'A haggis quiche is something we haven't seen before and it shows just how versatile our iconic Scottish haggis can be.' Earlier this week, we told how a Fife butcher picked up the top prize for Scotland's best sausage. Tom Courts Quality Foods, based in Burntisland, made history by scooping the title for a record-breaking third time at the Scottish Craft Butchers' biennial Trade Fair in Perth.
Daily Record
20-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Butchers Hugh Black & Sons' link sausage crowned best in south-east Scotland
The Lanarkshire firm's tasty triumph took place at the Scottish Pork Sausage Championship 2025. Lanarkshire butchers Hugh Black & Sons enjoyed a bangin' success as its link sausage was crowned the best in south-east Scotland. The firm's tasty triumph took place at the Scottish Pork Sausage Championship 2025. Cameron Black from the brilliant butchers attended the competition in Perth and lifted the South-east Scotland Championship, saying the whole team was 'over the moon'. Now one of the country's largest independent butchers, with 13 shops throughout the central belt, Hugh Black & Sons remains a family-run affair. Cameron, grandson of the original founder, said it was especially pleasing to get rewarded for what the family believe is a really good product. He said: "We produce around 500 kilos of pork links at our Bathgate factory every week for distribution to our 13 shops. "It's one of our biggest sellers and a product we're really proud of.' True to Cameron's granddad's original recipe, the award-winning sausage is now flying off the shelves with production going into overdrive to meet demand. "Word has got out and they're selling like hotcakes,' said Cameron. "You'll not hear us complaining, though. It's great to be back among the champions and we'll be back to retain our title next time and really push for the Scottish Championship.' Hugh Black & Sons have shops in Airdrie, Cambuslang, Carluke, Coatbridge, Lanark and Wishaw. Gordon King, executive manager with Scottish Craft Butchers, praised Cameron and the whole team for their regional win, pointing out the high standard of competition they faced. He said: "The Scottish Pork Sausage Championship is one of the most coveted and fiercely contested competitions in the business. "And to lift a regional title is a real achievement and recognition of an outstanding product. "The standard of entry this year was extremely high which reflects well on our local independent craft butchers who supply this household staple food as one of their key products on a daily basis.' Judith Johnston, senior account manager with championships sponsors Lucas Ingredients, praised the extremely high standard of competition and the regional champion, adding: "Lucas Ingredients is extremely proud to be associated with the Scottish Pork Sausage Championship and would like to congratulate everyone at Hugh Black & Sons on securing the Southeast Champion title in such a prestigious event.' *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Best sausage in Scotland announced as Fife butcher wins championship
Tom Courts, a third-time winner, "doesn't think there's a sausage in the country that has secured so many titles" We all love a good sausage here in Scotland. Whether it's on a roll, in a steak pie, or served with mash and beans, you will be hard pushed to find a Scot who doesn't select a sausage as their protein of choice when plating up tea. But a Fife butcher can now lay claim to the best banger in Scotland after lifting the championship for the third year in a row with a record-breaking Burntisland banger that has been named Scottish Pork Sausage Champion 2025. Tom Courts Quality Foods lifted the Championship for a whopping third time at the recent Scottish Craft Butchers bi-ennial Trade Fair at Perth, beating off fierce competition from over 60 independent butchers. And owner Tom couldn't be more delighted at his sausage being marked out as the best in the country. "We won the Scottish Championship in 2011 and 2013 and to top the charts again this year is just fantastic," he said. "I don't think there's a sausage in the country that has secured so many titles." Tom and his team hand craft and sell around 300 kilos of pork links every week from their production unit and shop at Burntisland, outsourcing to customers throughout Britain. His haul of awards for his pork sausage includes coming in as Reserve Scottish Champion in 1989 and 2009. The meat man took a break from the industry between 1992 and 2003 but his premier pork product has proved it's got real staying power. "I stay true to my dad's original recipe which has proved a best seller for two generations," he explained. "My dad said we should compete on quality – not price – and that's exactly why our pork sausage is a winner. Although he didn't reveal what the "secret twist" is, Tom took the helm himself for the national championship - hand-making the sausage that claimed the crown. Judges named it East of Scotland Champion before selecting it from five regions to be named Scottish Champion. "I'm really chuffed and the whole team is absolutely delighted," he went on. "We were up against some of the finest butchers in the country and although I know we have a great product, there's nothing like the thrill of hearing your name called out as being the best in the business. "Our pork links are such a signature product for us at Tom Courts Quality Foods. They're a huge seller and bring us a lot of business so it's just wonderful to see them secure another Scottish championship. What a treble!" Gordon King, Scottish Craft Butchers executive manager, said it was the pork sausage that others would aspire to. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "The Scottish Pork Sausage Championship is one of the most coveted and fiercely contested competitions in the business and to take the title with the exact same product three times is outstanding," he said. "The standard of entry this year was extremely high which reflects well on our local independent craft butchers who supply this household staple food as one of their key products on a daily basis. "But Tom Courts produced something exceptional yet again and wowed the judges to take a third championship title for his pork links."
The National
19-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Fife butcher wins Scotland's best pork sausage award
Tom Courts Quality Foods, Burntisland, managed to beat off fierce competition from more than 60 independent butchers to be crowned the Scottish Pork Sausage Champion 2025 at the Scottish Craft Butchers biennial Trade Fair in Perth. The owner, Tom Courts, previously won the title in 2011 and 2013, as he claimed he doesn't think there's a sausage in the country that has secured as many titles as his. Courts said his sausages are made with the 'very best' pork from Scotland, which is mixed with 'top quality' grains and spices along with a 'wee secret twist'. READ MORE: Labour minister breaks ranks to call out UK Government on Gaza 'genocide' 'I stay true to my dad's original recipe, which has proved a best seller for two generations,' Courts said. 'My dad said we should compete on quality – not price – and that's exactly why our pork sausage is a winner. 'It's made with the very best pork from Scotland mixed with top quality grains and spices and then made using artisan methods, perfected by our team. And there's a wee secret twist there too.' The Fife butcher took a break from the industry between 1992 and 2003 but returned to continue offering his award-winning pork products. Judges named Courts sausage East of Scotland Champion before selecting it from five regions to be named Scottish Champion. Courts (below) said it was 'wonderful' to see his pork sausages, which he hand-made himself for the judges, being recognised for their quality. (Image: Scottish Craft Butchers) He said: 'I'm really chuffed; the whole team is absolutely delighted. 'We were up against some of the finest butchers in the country and although I know we have a great product, there's nothing like the thrill of hearing your name called out as being the best in the business. 'Our pork links are such a signature product for us at Tom Courts Quality Foods,' he added. 'They're a huge seller and bring us a lot of business, so it's just wonderful to see them secure another Scottish championship – what a treble!' Courts and his team handcraft and sell around 300 kilos of pork links every week from their production unit and shop at Burntisland, outsourcing to customers throughout Britain. Gordon King, executive manager with Scottish Craft Butchers, said Court's achievement of winning for a third time was 'outstanding'. He said: 'The Scottish Pork Sausage Championship is one of the most coveted and fiercely contested competitions in the business. 'To take the title with the exact same product three times is outstanding.' King added: 'The standard of entry this year was extremely high which reflects well on our local independent craft butchers who supply this household staple food as one of their key products on a daily basis, but Tom Courts produced something exceptional yet again and wowed the judges to take a third championship title for his pork links.'
The Herald Scotland
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Wemyss Bay McCaskie's Butchers crowned world's haggis champion
Third-generation butcher Nigel Ovens admitted to being overwhelmed when he secured the global title at the Scottish Craft Butchers Trade Fair in Perth on Sunday. The haggis triumph sealed a double for Mr Ovens, whose Scotch Pie – crafted to an award-winning recipe created by James Pirrie & Son of Dundee – was also crowned World Scotch Pie Champion at the Scotch Pie Awards. Judges praised his haggis for being 'meaty, with a coarse but moist texture'. Its 'spicy peppery element', said to kick in at the end, made it 'a real champion'. Head judge Jon Wilkin said it 'couldn't be bettered'. 'I've spent years watching, tasting, tweaking and learning from others and I'm absolutely thrilled to be lifting the World Championship – it's a dream come true.' The haggis was said to be 'meaty, course and moist' (Image: Scottish Craft Butchers) Mr Ovens' haggis won the Scottish Championship 10 years ago and the butcher, who owns McCaskie's Butchers at Wemyss Bay, fought off stiff opposition from 55 other producers to be named world champion this time around. He refuses to part with the secrets of the recipe that makes his haggis a world-beater, but did allow a few key details to seep out. The butcher said: 'Let's just say lamb fat probably helps sweeten the haggis and give it broader appeal,' he said, 'but after a lifetime spent perfecting the recipe, I'll keep the rest a secret.' Nigel said the world title was a reward for his 24-strong team at Wemyss Bay who work to ensure that his haggis is enjoyed by customers across the UK. 'Haggis is no longer a Burns Night and burst product,' he said. 'It is a versatile foodstuff used to create a multitude of haggis products enjoyed throughout the year. 'It's one of Scotland's most iconic products and this World Haggis Championship title is the one that every butcher in the country aspires to. 'This means so much to me. It literally is a lifetime's achievement – I'm so honoured, so humbled and so thrilled.' Head judge Mr Wilkin, Reader in Food Innovation and Knowledge Exchange at Abertay University, said McCaskie's haggis was the very best the world could showcase and a worthy winner of the championship. 'It's absolutely fantastic and I can't imagine there's a better haggis anywhere,' he said. 'The judges had a tough time because the standard this year was extraordinary, but Nigel's haggis had something special. 'It was meaty, with a coarse but moist texture, just the right amount of offal to flavour but not overwhelm, a really good salt level and a wonderful spicy peppery element that kicks in at the end – a real champion.' Mr Ovens' Scotch Pie also won the top award (Image: Scottish Craft Butchers) Louise Harley from championship sponsor Grampian Oat Products added her congratulations to McCaskie's after playing her part on the judging panel. 'It was an honour to be part of such a prestigious event as both a judge and a sponsor,' she said. 'The standard was incredibly high and, although scoring was tight, we congratulate Nigel Ovens and McCaskie's on an outstanding product. 'Oats are an integral part of the haggis recipe and Grampian Oat Products was delighted to sponsor the World Championships again this year.' READ MORE: Mr Ovens is only the second butcher ever to win the World Haggis Championship – a competition staged for the first time by Scottish Craft Butchers (SCB) in 2023 and held every two years. SCB President, Laura Black of Coopers of Bellshill and previous holder of the title, said she was delighted to see the extremely high standard of entry for such an iconic dish and congratulated Nigel for reaching his lifetime goal. 'McCaskie's are well known for their multi-award-winning products and for Nigel to add this World Haggis Championship to his plaudits is just wonderful,' said Laura. 'There are few butchers who wouldn't want to add that accolade to their honours and we're thrilled for him.'
