Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Butcher is shop of the year for a third time
A Muirhead butcher beefed up its impressive collection of accolades by being crowned Scottish Butcher’s shop of the year – for a unprecedented third time in a decade.
The family-run S Collins & Son Butchers secured the outstanding hat-trick at the 26th annual awards, organised by William Reed Business Media, which this year was staged as a virtual event, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The judges, a panel of industry experts, were said to be “blown away” by the level of quality, innovation and excellence on show as finalists were also visited by mystery shoppers in store.
After learning that S Collins & Son had followed up its previous Scottish Butcher’s shop of the year coups in 2012 and 2017, senior partner of the Lindsaybeg Road shop, and third generation butcher, Stewart Collins said: “For an independent family-run butcher to win the high profile honour not once but three times is absolutely amazing, and a true testament to our craft skills, quality products and service.
“I dedicate it to the entire 45-strong team, experienced and dedicated butchers and support staff all fully committed to serving our growing customer base.
“They have gone that extra mile in extremely challenging times over the past year and together with the top-notch Scottish farmers from whom we continue to source our meat, we have risen to the challenge by continuing to put locally produced food on people’s tables.
“Like others during the pandemic, the Scottish public, whose eating habits, requirements and beliefs in how our food should be produced continues to change and constantly evolve, have had little option but to look more towards Scottish produce and together with our ever-resilient farming communities we have pulled out all the stops to ‘meat their needs’.
“It’s all about sustainability, producing and providing food in an ever-increasing environmentally sensitive way, while at the same time striving to keep food miles to a minimum.
“Our customers have told us they really appreciate our efforts and as well as our loyal band of regulars, we are now attracting people from further afield, among them an increasing Glasgow contingent.”
S Collins & Son Butchers has a long and proud history and pedigree, with the business established in Coatbridge more than six decades ago, in 1955, by the current owner’s grandfather, also Stewart, who, in turn, followed his own son, another Stewart, who took over the business in 1970.
He purchased the current shop in Muirhead in 1979 and laid down the first roots in the area, with the original Coatbridge shop sold in 1997.
The current Stewart Collins joined the business in 2001 and has continued to lead from the front, joined by his younger brother Fraser in 2009.
As well as a trio of Scottish Butcher’s shop of the year titles, S Collins & Son is also a multiple finalist and runner-up in the annual competition.
One of the biggest single achievements came in 1999 when the shop was accepted into the national Butchers Q Guild, which represents leading award-winning butchers the length and breadth of the UK.
Stewart added: “High profile award wins like these recognise innovation and quality, helping all of us to raise standards across the board and drive forward product development.
“With restrictions easing, we are relishing the resumption of meat industry competitions at which we can again showcase our many skills and talents; and hopefully build on our many successes to date.”