Inverclyde Butcher Triumphs in Top Foodie Awards

Mearns T. McCaskie butchers from Wemyss Bay has been awarded Champion of Champions at Quality Meat Scotland’s (QMS) inaugural Chef’s Choice Scotch Lamb PGI Awards.

Butchers from the QMS Scotch Butchers Club membership across Scotland were invited to participate to find the ultimate Champion of Champions. Scotch Lamb products that had already been recognised nationally through other competitions such as Craft Butcher, Q Guild, Great Taste, Scotch/British Pie and the Scotch Lamb Innovation Awards were eligible to enter.

Judging took place at Edinburgh College and was conducted by The Federation of Chefs Scotland with the panel casting a critical and expert eye over these already award-winning products.

A total of 25 products – ranging from burgers, sausages, marinated chops and steaks to lamb lollipops and Scotch pies - were judged on the day from seven award-winning Scotch Butchers Club members.

Mearns T. McCaskie won the first ever Chef’s Choice Scotch Lamb Awards Champion of Champions with their popular Scotch Lamb Lollipops.

Commenting on their win, Nigel Ovens at Mearns T. McCaskie said: “We are proud to be recognised for using such high-quality Scotch Lamb and feel incredibly honoured to win the very first Chef’s Choice Scotch Lamb PGI Award.

“We always strive to provide the best quality meat and encourage people to buy locally sourced produce. Our customers love our Scotch Lamb lollipops and it seems the judges did too.”

Graham Sharp, Marketing Executive at QMS said: “It has been fantastic to be able to get these awards up and running and the first ever Chef’s Choice Scotch Lamb Awards has been a huge success.

“Although we do have a number of other awards throughout the year which celebrate Scotch Lamb, the Chef’s Choice is the ultimate seal of approval for the very best product out there.”