The annual Butcher’s Shop of the Year awards are dedicated to celebrating and acknowledging excellence, commitment, and accomplishment in the UK butchery industry. To find the best of the best across six regions covering the UK, this event awards not only quality displays, online retail, teams, and trainees but also other notable categories. Following numerous entries, a panel of experts has narrowed down a list of deserving finalists who participated in this year’s event at The Bierkeller in Birmingham with eager anticipation.
The event was not just a chance for butchery champions to be recognized, but it also opened up opportunities for networking and knowledge-sharing as well as lively entertainment with the Oommpah band performing. To start the awards, Bethan Grylls, editor of Food Manufacture and Meat Trades Journal, presented the winner of Champion of Champions, a category looking to recognize the UK’s best sausage. Mark Duckworth of Dales Traditional Butcher took home the title of the best banger with his pork and caramel sausage, becoming the grand winner of the category.
The panel of judges comprised of the Institute of Meat CEO, Keith Fisher, among others, found it very daunting to select a winner from a “formula one” grid of sausages. Fisher further explained that before starting the taste test, they ask themselves whether they would buy those sausages, then select five or six that they have highlighted as possible winners. Finally, they proceed to cook and taste them and see if there are any air cavities, bones or gristle evaluating the texture and filling as well.
Apart from the Champion of Champions category, there were regional awards across the UK, with McCaskie’s Butcher and Café in Scotland crowned as the Scottish Butcher Shop of the Year and overall winner of Butcher’s Shop. Lishman’s of Ilkley, Essington Farm Shop, Edward of Conwy, Carnbrooke, and The Guildford Butchery were awarded the North of England, Midlands & East of England, Wales & West Country, Northern Ireland, and London and Southeast of England Butcher Shop of the Year, respectively.
Moreover, Bates of Atherstone was announced as the best in display, and Durslade Farm Shop was crowned as the ultimate specialists, while the Dorset Meat Company.co.uk triumphed in ecommerce by winning the title for the best Online Butchery Business. Notably, the award for New Butchery Business of the Year went to Butcher Farrell’s Meat Emporium. Also, the award for Sustainability Initiative went to Swans Farm Shop for its hard work in integrating sustainability throughout its entire process.
The Dorking Butchery impressed the judges with its team work and won the title of Team of the Year. We would like to express our gratitude to our sponsors, namely Atlantic Service, Lucas Ingredients, MRC, The Dalesman Group, Tican Chilled, Weddel Swift, and Viscofan, the sponsor of Champion of Champions, for supporting this event and making it a great success.
