Having started in the industry with David Palmer in Jedburgh, Craig Douglas bought over a business in St Boswells in June 2006. Since then the business has steadily picked up but the major boost came in May 2009 when he won the Pork Sausage title. Craig says that he will be doing more promotion on local radio after this second championship award:-

“Customers travel from all over the Borders; delivery men and others who are travelling up the A68 hear our advert on Radio Borders and detour to buy sausages. It makes a right big difference. Now with both titles we hope to be doubly busy.”

This competition organised by the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders was judged regionally in May of this year with the Regional winner and runner up both going through to the Scottish Final that was judged at the Braehead Cook School .

The ten finalists in each competition were visited on Thursday 8th July. Their products were purchased by mystery shoppers and taken to the Braehead Cook School at Kilmarnock on Friday 9th July. Steve Doherty from the Braehead had the impressive Cook School facilities ready for Kevin MacGillvray from the Scottish Chefs Federation to organise the final cook off.

The judges for the final were Kevin MacGillvray (Marine Hotel, Troon), Duncan McKay (Western House Hotel, Ayr), Andrea Christie (wife of SFMTA President Stuart), Steve Doherty (Braehead Cook School) and Moira Stalker from Scotland Food and Drink Federation. Picture of the judges

The Finalists