Maclean's Highland Bakery and Ashers Bakery win prizes at the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards 2023
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LOCAL bakers were again winners at this year's World Championship Scotch Pie Awards.
The overall title went to Dundee's James Pirie & Son but Maclean's Highland Bakery and Ashers Bakery also earned accolades in their respective sections.
Maclean's won Gold for their lasagne pie and Bronze for their macaroni pie, while Ashers received Bronze for their Nairn County football pie and savoury, apple, and hand-held steak pies.
Maclean's managing director, Lewis Maclean, said: "It's really good to have won two awards. They are highly contested and there were a record number of entries this year.
"It's testament to our savoury team who consistently make fantastic products. In the car on our way home we discussed how we can improve the standard for next year - their attention to detail is awesome!"
Ashers director Ali Asher was also thrilled to hear his team's pies are winners.
He said: "We're always delighted to get recognition for our products. The County Steak Pie has always been well received, more so than ever recently when they started selling our pies in rolls!
"We'll continue to enter our products to compare them against other great Scottish baking and look to see where we can improve to bring more awards back to the Highlands and Moray."
Scottish Bakers run the annual awards competition. This year, nearly 500 of the best pies on the market were submitted by 78 of the best butchers, bakers and other pie makers for judging by 60 pie professionals.
The winning products were considered to be the best of the best when it came to taste, texture, appearance and smell across categories from the Scotch Pie to Football Pies and Savouries, Macaroni Pies, Steak Pies, Sausage Rolls, Cold Savouries, Hot Savouries, Vegetarian Savouries, Haggis Savouries, Bridies and Apple Pies.
Chief executive Alasdair Smith said: "All of the winners can be proud of placing so highly."
Carol Smillie presented the awards.
She said: "These bakers and butchers consistently provide such high quality and the new faces tell me that the sector continues to thrive and prosper with more professionals than ever throwing their hats into the ring.
"Well done to all our winners.”
