Scots top Smithfield Awards

The annual event, held at Butchers’ Hall, celebrates the exceptional products created by Q Guild butchers’, chosen by the panel of independent judges from more than 400 entries.

This year, the awards were presented by celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott, who is promoting the Guild as part of a high-profile PR campaign. He told Meat Trades Journal that butchers are rightly proud of the quality of their produce and that the standard is going up. He said: “It’s not just the case of winning the prize, it’s producing the best. We want quality and it’s all about the taste — and that’s what I got from these guys here today. The event has been fantastic, people are genuinely excited about winning these awards. And, I say, be proud of that and put it up in a good location in the shop. It’s like a chef winning a Michelin star — it means something, it means you’ve done something really good. You’re an award-winner.”

Crombies of Edinburgh, which won the Christmas Products category for its two-bird roast, took the overall award, with diamond awards being won by Thomas Johnston Quality Butchers of Falkirk (burgers); Hepburns of Shenfield for its Moroccan lamb pie (hot pies and bakery); Duncan Fraser and Son of Inverness for its seasoned unsmoked gammon joint (bacon and cured category); Davidsons Specialist Butchers of Inverurie for its pork tower (kitchen-ready); CN Wright of Ripley, Derbyshire for its large pork pies (cold pies and bakery); Allan Bennett of Wolverhampton for its pork, honey and mustard sausage; and P Richards Butchers of Wolverhampton for its home-made corned beef (cooked meats). Fergusons of Airdrie  took the MacDuff best Scotch beef product for its Individual Steak Pie.

Sandy Crombie said: “We’re thrilled that our products have been recognised in the Smithfield Awards, and we’re especially proud that we were the overall winner. We were confident that our two-bird roast would do well, but it’s great for it to be awarded the top prize. As a Q Guild member, we regard ourselves as among Britain’s best butchers, and these awards prove that we have the products to match. Winning a Smithfield Award definitely adds value and prestige to our business as a whole.”

Q Guild chairman Philip Cranston said: “These products represent some of the best in the country, which proves that independent butchers have something unique to offer the UK consumer and should be proud of the great work they do.”

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