Burger Initiative Proves Big Hit in East Ayrshire

The recipe for the winning burger in a Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) schools competition has proved so successful it is now being introduced to 45 primary schools and nine academies in East Ayrshire.

The #TasteScotland competition, run by QMS’s Scotch Butchers Club, was won at the final at the Royal Highland Show in June by Greenwood Academy S1 pupils with their ‘Clapshot’ burger, supplied by local butcher Pollok Williamson.

The main objective of the competition was to encourage youngsters to take an interest in quality, local ingredients such as Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork and to understand how simple it is to cook tasty, healthy food.

The pupils worked with local Scotch Butchers Club members, Kenny Boag and Stewart Duguid of Pollok Williamson, to develop their ideas and their burger was sold through the shop.

Mr Boag and Mr Duguid thoroughly enjoyed working on the project with the pupils. “It was great to work with such an enthusiastic group of kids and let them see how their idea can become a reality,” said Mr Boag.

“The burgers have been flying off the shelves in our shop and, due to their success, we have used the pupils’ idea and made a Clapshot sausage which we recently entered into the Sausage for Scotland competition.”

Nutritionist Jenni Henderson, QMS Health and Education Executive, said that the decision to include the burger on the menus of other schools in the area emphasised what a great idea the ‘Clapshot’ burger had been.

“The creativity of the pupils of Greenwood Academy in the development of their burger concept was very encouraging and a lot of time and effort had obviously gone into making their burger unique, but still very tasty,” said Miss Henderson.

“The pupils should feel really proud that their burger can now be enjoyed in schools across East Ayrshire.”