Scottish Butchers Show Off Skills and Innovation

Two Scottish butchers have shown their meat mettle by beating off stiff competition to scoop the Scotch Butchers Club Meat Skills Scotland Championship title.

 Butchers from throughout Scotland gathered in Perth yesterday (Sunday, May 8th) to showcase the skills and craftsmanship for which their trade is renowned.

 Gary Raeburn, of Forbes Raeburn and Sons in Huntly, Aberdeenshire triumphed in the “Over 22” category to win the Scottish Butcher of the Year title.  Murray Jamieson, of Bruce Brymer Butchers in Brechin, emerged as the Young Butcher of the Year picking up the “Under 22” prize.

 Supported by the Scotch Butchers Club, which is run by Quality Meat Scotland, the Meat Skills Championship is held every second year to seek out the most skilled and creative butchers in Scotland.

 Around 500 people attended the event and enjoyed the opportunity to watch some of Scotland’s finest butchers at work in a competitive environment.

 Uel Morton, Quality Meat Scotland’s Chief Executive, said he was very impressed with the standard of the skills showcased at the event.

“It is particularly encouraging to see the standard being set by young people choosing to make careers in the butcher’s trade and the pride they take in seeking to develop both traditional skills and innovate new products.

 “The specialist knowledge and ability of our butchers underpins a wonderful creative flair which is resulting in an enticing range of new serving ideas being presented by the industry.

 “Consumers visiting their local butcher will find staff a font of knowledge, including practical advice on meat cooking and preparation tips. Those who have not visited their butchers shop for a while will  be surprised by the wide range of products now available,” said Mr Morton.

Scottish Meat Training, the event organiser, is committed to the training and development of people engaged within the Scottish meat industry.  In pursuit of this goal it organises the event to give butchers the opportunity and experience of developing their skills and assist the reputation of their employer’s business.

Douglas Scott, Chief Executive of Scottish Meat Training explained: “Using their acquired skills in a competitive environment gives young butchers a chance to demonstrate how much they have learned and measure themselves against their fellow competitors.”

Past winners have travelled to other Meat Skills events in Manchester, London, France and Ireland and, for new Scottish Butcher of the Year, Gary Raeburn, the travelling starts this weekend when he will represent Scotland in a Four Nations Meat Skills challenge in Shrewsbury.

Caption: Quality Meat Scotland chief executive, Uel Morton, pictured with the new Scottish Butcher of the Year, Gary Raeburn of Forbes Raeburn and Sons in Huntly.

Notes for Editors:

The finalists were as follows:

 Over 22 Category:

Darren Brown, Simon Howie, Auchterarder

Richard Megahy, Simon Howie, Perth

Gary Raeburn, Forbes Raeburn & Sons, Huntly

Aaron Taylor, Simon Howie, Perth

 Under 22 Category

Neil Anderson, Stuart Grant Butchers, Grantown on Spey

Billy Holding, Hendersons, Hamilton

Murray Jamieson, Bruce Brymer, Brechin

Gareth McDonald. MacDonald Bros, Pitlochry