Scottish Championship win for Culloden sliced sausage

It`s been a traditional butchers staple that has fuelled the working day for generations of Scots.
And now the industry has crowned A & I Quality Butchers in Culloden the nation`s Sliced Sausage Champion in the Scottish Craft Butchers Awards 2022.

Delighted owner butcher Ali Paul, who has been in the trade for 45 years, likened his national success to an athlete winning gold at the Olympics.

"I don`t think people realise what a significant thing this is for a butcher," he said. "Sliced sausage is one of the pillars of the butchers trade and to be judged the best in Scotland is absolutely thrilling - it`s a huge achievement."

Ali is keeping the secret of his success close to his chest but explained that locally-sourced quality beef, combined with the correct ratio of fat, rusks, water and seasoning, produces his national winner.

"We`re making around 50 bars of 20 slices each week," he said, "but I expect we`ll have to increase production to cope with the rush of customers a national title invariably brings."

And Ali dedicated the championship to his 16-strong team who he claims "pulled out all the stops" to ensure the community was fed during the Covid pandemic.

"We went from delivering 30 orders a week before the crisis to 300 orders a week throughout," he said. "We refused no one and the staff were fantastic - they just dug in and got on with it.

"To be crowned Scottish Champions for our square sausage is something they can all take pride in, knowing it`s just reward for a job well done."

Scottish Craft Butchers President Tom Courts said the standard displayed in the competition typified the quality produced by craft butchers in every part of the country.

"It`s great to see butchers vying for the accolades again after Covid," said Tom, "and we`re seeing the very best of the best take this year`s championships.

"It gives a butcher a great lift to know his products are judged to be the best in Scotland and customers can be assured that the championship-winning product they buy across the counter at A & I Quality Butchers is exactly the same as those that secured the judges` vote in the competition."

David Chisholm, Commercial Manager with awards sponsors Scobie and Junior Group, congratulated Ali and his team on their title-winning product.

“Scobie and Junor Group is proud to sponsor the Sliced Sausage awards 2022 and delighted that A & I Quality Butchers, a family award-winning butchers, is continuing to deliver excellent quality Scottish produce," he said.

Scobiedirect.com have been supporting Scottish butchers for over 20 years and are also longstanding members of the Scottish Craft Butchers.”

Ends

For further information please contact Gordon King, Executive Manager, Scottish Craft Butchers, on 07917-524-313
or
Scottish Craft Butchers PR Maureen Young on 07778-779-888

 2022_Beef_Slice-Sausage-Results.pdf

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