Blairgowrie butchers' win awards

Jan 18 2013 by Clare Damodoran, Blairgowrie Advertiser

Blairgowrie butchers HW Irvine is celebrating after winning a number of awards at the World Scotch Pie Championships in Dumfermline earlier this month.

The team won four awards at the championships, coming home with a gold certificate for their steak and gravy pie, a silver for their sausage rolls and bronze certificates for their hot pot and their mince and tattie pie.

More than 100 butchers and bakers from across Scotland submitted 500 pies, pasties, sausage rolls, bridies and savouries into the competition, which is now in its 14th year.

Owner Kenny Allan, who took over HW Irvine a year ago, is delighted with the success. Speaking to the Blairie, he said: “We have won awards at these championships before but this year we won for different products.

“Winning these awards again is a fantastic accolade and confirmation of the high standards that we are consistently achieving as a team here at Irvines.

“And, of course, it is great for the staff here that their hard work is recognised in this way.

“We have improved our pies based on feedback from our customers and it has certainly paid dividends. As well as winning these awards we are also selling many more pies – it just goes to show the benefits of listening to our customers!

“Awards such as these also give our customers confidence in the products that we sell, so it is a win-win situation for everyone, particularly in what is still a difficult economic environment. ”

Irvine’s is also the current Scottish White Pudding Champions and is renowned for its award-winning bacon as well.