Pie Goodness! James Pirie Wins Fifth World Title
James Pirie & Son of Newtyle has been crowned the winner of the 2024 World Championship Scotch Pie Awards.
The business, who won the competition in 2018, 2020 and 2022 as well as taking the title World Scotch Pie Champion of Champions in 2021 with their Scotch Pie, were told on 16 January that their pies have once again been named the best in the world.
Lesley Cameron, CEO of Scottish Bakers, who run the competition said: “With nearly 500 of the best pies on the market entered by 78 of the best butchers, bakers and other pie makers and with each and every entry put to the test by 50 pie professionals who were looking for the ‘best of the best’, the annual winners have now been announced and they should all be very proud”.
The winning products were all considered by the judges to be the best of the best when it came to taste, touch, appearance and smell across the categories from the iconic Scotch pie to football pies and savouries, macaroni pie, steak pie, sausage roll, hot savoury, vegetarian savoury, haggis savoury, Bridie and apple pies.
Scottish Bakers, the association which supports the interests of Scotland’s bakery trade, organises the annual competition to shine a light on the craft skills pie makers demonstrate day in and day out lovingly making pies from scratch from locally sourced ingredients.
Carol Smillie presented the awards to the winners saying: “I am always delighted to present these awards, to meet so many faces old and new and of course all those delicious pies.
“These bakers and butchers consistently provide such high quality and the new faces tell me that the sector continues to thrive and prosper with more professionals than ever throwing their hats into the ring. Well done to all our winners.”
Other Angus businesses who took home awards in the various categories were:
Scotch Pie – Silver Medal, Keptie Bakery Letham and DH Robertson, Arbroath.
Sausage Roll – Diamond Award and Overall Winner, James Pirie & Son, Newtyle. Silver Medal, WeeCOOK, Carnoustie.
Steak Pie – Bronze Medal, Keptie Bakery, Letham.
Haggis Savoury – Diamond Medal, WeeCOOK, Carnoustie. Gold, JM Bakery, Carnoustie (Balmoral Pie).
Football Pie – Gold, DH Robertson, Arbroath (Steak and Black Pudding Pie at Arbroath FC) Bronze, DH Robertson, Arbroath (Steak Pie at Arbroath Vics FC).
Hot Savoury – Diamond Award and Overall Winner, WeeCOOK, Carnoustie (Fishwife Pie). WeeCOOK, Carnoustie (Beef Steak Bourguignon and Fishwife Pie). Silver, DH Robertson, Arbroath (Onion Bhaji Pie).
Vegetarian Savoury – Diamond Award and Overall Winner, WeeCOOK, Carnoustie (Caponato Formaggio). Gold Award, WeeCOOK, Carnoustie (Caponato Formaggio).