Strichen butcher recognised as Scotland’s best for the third time in a row

A north-east butcher has been recognised as Scotland’s best for the third year in a row.

Bert Fowlie in Strichen took home the prize for Scottish Butcher of the Year at the Butcher’s Shop of the Year awards.

Owner of the third-generation family butcher, Hebbie Fowlie, said he was “absolutely delighted”.

He said: “We’re just a wee butchers from the north-east and we were up against much bigger businesses, so this is a great achievement for us.

“To win it once was brilliant, and the second time was unbelievable, but to win it for a third time in a row has totally exceeded our expectations.”

Callum Morrice, 21, who works at Bert Fowlie, was a finalist for the Young Butcher of the Year category.

Pyne’s of Somerset was crowned overall winner.

The annual awards are organised by the Meat Trades Journal and celebrate the best of independent retail butchers.

The Journal’s publisher, Sonia Young, said:  “Every single one of these businesses are at the very top of their game.”