The Blagdon Farm Shop earned a national award for its Mince & Onion Pie at the Smithfield Awards, announced at Butchers’ Hall in London.
One of ten artisan butchers from across the UK to be crowned top of their class, the Blagdon-based butcher won the Hot Eating Pie category for its Mince & Onion Pie in the meat trade’s most high profile and challenging product evaluation.
Organised by the Q Guild of Butchers, the awards – which have run for more than 30 years – recognise and reward the UK’s finest craft butchery products including Traditional Pork Sausage, Best Burger, Home-Cured Bacon, BBQ Product, and Best Butchers Steak.
Products are awarded a bronze, silver or gold award by a panel of independent industry judges, with all gold products in each category then vying for the title of category champion and a diamond award.
The diamond award was presented to The Blagdon Farm Shop team by Dr Carrie Ruxton, one of the UK’s most respected voices in nutrition, public health messaging and evidence-based food communication.
The Blagdon pie achieved an exceptional score of 69 out of 70 and was commended on “making a simple product great with really flavoursome mince and a packed full pie”.
The Farm Shop also picked up three gold awards – for its Old English Sausage, Bacon & Egg Pie, and Sausage Roll. It also earned a silver award for its Apple & Sage Stuffing.
Nicky Brown and Michelle Slater from The Blagdon Farm Shop said: “We’re blown away winning this award. There’s no secret recipe, this is just a pie made from the heart. It’s a traditional pie and sometimes those are the best.”
Gordon Wallace, Q Guild manager, said: “The standard of entries this year was incredibly high, which makes Blagdon Farm Shop’s achievement all the more impressive. To be named best in class and take home three additional gold awards is a fantastic result. Their success is a real testament to the quality and consistency of their products and reflects the innovation and excellence driving the craft butchery sector forward.”
