Maclean's Highland Bakery wins Silver at World Championship Scotch Pie Awards 2024
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A LOCAL business struck silver in a national awards ceremony.
Maclean's Highland Bakery's entry came second in the Scotch Pie category of the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards - the overall competition winner was James Pirie & Son of Blairgowrie, Perthshire.
Maclean's director Lewis Maclean is proud to have scored so highly in a contest entered by 78 of the best butchers, bakers and other pie makers in the country.
He said: "I'm very happy to get a Silver for our Scotch pies as the standard is so high these days. The judging came down to very fine margins. To get this in the most contested category is a great result."
The judges considered the winning products in all categories to be the best of the best when it came to taste, touch, appearance and smell. The additional sections were Football Pies and Savouries, Macaroni Pie, Steak Pie, Sausage Roll, Hot Savoury, Vegetarian Savoury, Haggis Savoury, Bridie and Apple Pies.
Scottish Bakers organises the annual competition to shine a light on the craft skills makers demonstrate making pies from locally sourced ingredients.
Carol Smillie presented the awards in the Westerwood Hotel, Cumbernauld.
She said: “I'm always delighted to meet so many faces old and new and of course all those delicious pies!
"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.”
James Pirie & Son won the competition in 2018, 2020 and 2022 as well as taking the title World Scotch Pie Champion of Champions in 2021.
Maclean's last won the overall title of Scotch Pie World Champion in 2003.
Mr Maclean said: "I've travelled down to Newtyle where the current world champion is based before. It's not an easy place to find in the middle of nowhere! I bought some of his savoury range to taste and dissect.
"We're determined to come back stronger next year. We'll have a day or two off to visit a few of the other winners and do a panel test to see where we can improve."
