PIE’S THE LIMIT
AN award-winning Wemyss Bay butchers has beefed up its business after agreeing a deal to buy the brand behind a five-time world champion pie.
McCaskie’s, based on Shore Road in the village, has taken over another of the country’s leading independent butchers with the purchase of Blairgowrie-based James Pirie & Son following the owners’ decision to retire.
The record-smashing Pirie Pie lifted the World Scotch Pie Championship in five of the last seven years, while its recipe book also contains the secret to its national title-winning sausages, pies, bacon and haggis.
Multi-award-winning McCaskie’s was named the best in the UK in 2023 and is also the current Scottish Black Pudding Champion.
Owner Nigel Ovens said: “Given Pirie’s fabulous heritage, McCaskie’s
absolutely intends to protect and promote the brand name and recipes, honouring the legendary status owner Alan, his father Jim and wife Norma have established over the past 64 years.
“We have a long-standing friendship with the Pirie family and, as they head off to enjoy a well-deserved retirement, McCaskie’s will ensure that their life’s work lives on.
“We’re delighted that Alan will initially act as consultant to our team to ensure the Pirie branded products taste exactly as they always have.
“It’s a real honour to be entrusted with iconic products such as the world-famous Pirie Pie and we intend to make the family proud as we take their brand forward.”
Sealing the deal this week, Alan Pirie
said: “We can’t think of a better company than McCaskie’s to continue the Pirie brand and recipes.
“Not only are they officially the best butcher shop in the UK, but they have a formidable catalogue of national award-winning products themselves.
“Our families share the same values and commitment to the highest standards of both product and service and we’re reassured that the Pirie legacy will be in safe keeping at McCaskie’s.”
The Inverclyde business says its immediate plans are to focus on building a relationship with Pirie’s existing wholesale clients and broadening the distribution of the products to speciality retail outlets and the hospitality sector.
A new James Pirie and Son website will be launched soon, offering a full range of Pirie products.