Butchers enjoy the taste of success
Two Lanarkshire-based butchers have taken home titles from this year’s Scottish Craft Butchers Awards.
In a first competition bid for their butcher’s beef link sausages, K&F Butchers in Stonehouse scooped the West of Scotland Championship – and a Reserve Scottish Champion title – marking their beef link sausages as among the best in the country.
And they were joined by Strachan Craft Butchers in Blantyre, who were delighted that their meaty offering captured the taste buds of the judges, striking gold for their traditional sliced beef sausage.
Delighted K&F Butchers owner James Kennedy took over the family business 12 years ago, and said he was thrilled with the success of their traditional product.
He said: “This is the first time we’ve entered these sausages for an award and to scoop the regional title and narrowly miss out of the national crown is just amazing – we’re all absolutely delighted.”
The event, organised by the Scottish Craft Butchers, was sponsored by Scobie and Junor Group and attracted a high number of entries from sausage makers all over Scotland, from Orkney to the Solway Firth.
Judges were drawn from the meat industry experts and enthusiastic sausage aficionados.
James employs a team of five at the King Street butchers and said it was tremendous for a small family butcher to secure bragging rights in a major national competition.
He told us: “We were up against some large concerns and seasoned awards entrants so it’s great to hold our head high among the big boys and to come out as the best in the west of Scotland is just fantastic.
“It’s a great start to the year and a worthy reward to the team for all their hard work.”
James’ recipe for his award-winning links remains a secret but he claims prime quality beef and tips handed down through the family helped ensure their success.
And having secured Reserve Champion status in this year’s awards, James can set his sights on the national title in the biennial contest.
He added: “Hopefully there will be a rush on our beef link sausages in the coming weeks so we’ll make sure we produce plenty, it’s nice to be able to say they’ve been voted the best in the west!”
The sausages were submitted for grilling by the experts at an evaluation held at Forth Valley College in November and the results were announced in January.
Scottish Craft Butchers president, Tom Courts, said the standard displayed in the competition typified the quality produced by craft butchers in every part of the country.
“It’s great to see butchers vying for the accolades again after COVID,” said Tom, “and we’re seeing the very best of the best take this year’s awards.”