Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Golden pastry shot for Airdrie butchers
Fergusons win top prize for steak pie at Q Guild bash
Ai rdrie butcher Fergusons tasted glittering success at a major industry ceremony – as they collected a prestigious diamond award for their individual Scottish steak pie.
The tasty treat earned a top prize at the Smithfield awards, run each year by the Q Guild of Butchers to “recognise and reward excellent products [from] the very best butchers in the country”.
Fergusons triumphed in the Scottish beef products section for their product, which judges described as “made with locally-reared, grass-fed beef diced into a succulent gravy and covered in golden pastry”.
The Buchanan Street business also collected gold awards at the ceremony for their extra- lean steak burgers, black pudding, haggis slice, pepper pattie and beef links, plus a silver award for their Scottish pork links.
Proud owner Graeme Johnston told the Advertiser :“We’ re absolutely thrilled – we’re up against the absolute elite of butchers from across Great Britain so this award really means being the best of the best.
“To come away with the top award is absolutely fantastic and everyone is really pleased.
“We have a good team where everyone is really motivated; and we have great raw material – our main supplier is in Broxburn and our meat has great provenance and traceability – and a longstanding recipe.
“Lots of people are working together to produce great products and we’re really pleased to have been recognised.”
Fergusons was among craft butchers from across Britain who submitted their products in 17 different categories for judging at City of Glasgow College by an independent panel of industry experts.
Q Guild of Butchers chair Mark Turnbull said: “The Smithfield Awards are always a celebration of butchers who are the top of their game, combining traditional skills, knowledge and great taste, and the 2018 award winners demonstrate this superbly.”