SURPRISE SMILLIE FOR GLASGOW POSTIE

A long-serving Glasgow postman had his morning brightened up with a surprise delivery from TV presenter Carol Smillie on Blue Monday, 19th January as part of a “Warm and Tasty” campaign to celebrate the humble pie.

After all his hard work in difficult weather conditions delivering Christmas cards and presents throughout the festive period, George Haddow’s day was brightened when he was presented with the warm and tasty beef pie as a little thank you.� George is a well-deserved recipient of the smiley treat as he has undertaken an incredible 29 years’ loyal service with The Royal Mail.

The “warm and Tasty” pie campaign - a collaboration between industry bodies Quality Meat Scotland, Scottish Bakers and the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Association – returns this year after its success in 2014. Butchers and bakers up and down the country will be encouraging consumers to beat the chill and the January blues with a piping hot pie.�

Pie fans across Scotland are being encouraged to follow Carol’s lead and treat deserving friends, family or colleagues who work outdoors at this chilly time of year. Butchers and bakers across Scotland will also be rewarding unsung heroes in their local communities around the time of January 26^th which is known as “Blue Monday” the most depressing day of the year.

As the smiling face of the campaign, Carol said: “This is a brilliant, fun initiative from QMS and our Scottish butchers and bakers. What could be better at this time of year than giving a tasty, hot pie to brighten up the day of someone who has been working hard in the cold weather and making an important contribution to our local communities.”

Last week was the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards and over 600 different pies and savouries from more than 100 Scottish Bakers and Butchers were submitted to be judges and prizes awarded in ten product categories.

The real judges are the people who buy the pies and I want to encourage customers to buy a pie from their local baker or butcher and taste the quality of their products for themselves. Scotch pies are an iconic quality product that Scotland is so rightly proud of.

Douglas Scott, Chief Executive of the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Association said: “Pies and pastry goods are becoming an increasingly important part of a butchers business and are proving extremely popular with consumers.

“The benefit in using craft butchers and craft bakers is that they course the finest quality meats, making their products with the same meat that you can buy minced, sliced or in roasts.”