SCOTLAND WINS YOUNG BUTCHER OF THE YEAR FOR THIRD TIME RUNNING

Gary Raeburn of Huntly kept up Scotland's proud record of wins in the UK Young Butcher of the Year competition as judged by the Meat Trades Journal.

Young Butcher of the Year 2010 is Gary Raeburn from Huntly. Gary completed a hat-trick of Scottish victories in this competition following on in the footsteps of Alan Elliott of Dalbeattie Fine Foods in 2008 and Stewart McClymont of Bennetts in Dunblane in 2009. Gary received his award at the presentation lunch held in the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in London on Tuesday 16th November 2010.

The Scottish Butchers' Shop of the Year is Davidsons Specialist Butchers. John Davidson has retaken the title that he first won in 2008 beating off stout competition from Stewart Collins Butchers in Muirhead and John Lawson Butchers in Uphall.

The Young Butcher of the Year title is hotly contested amongst the up and coming talents of the meat industry in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

This year Gary beat off the challenge of Steven Cusack of Davidsons Specialist Butchers in Inverurie and Ben Mews of Bonners the Butchers in Ilminster, Somerset.

Presenting the award in London, Bill Jeremy, Chief Executive of the Meat Training Council described the standard of the competition to be as exceptionally strong as ever and added:

“This award is very important since young people are critical to the future success of our industry. The finalists are a credit to themselves, their businesses and their craft.”

Gary of butchers Forbes Raeburn and Sons in Bogie Street, has won numerous awards for excellence. He has won the Under 22 Scottish Meat Skills championship three times, represented Scotland at international meat skills competitions, is a regular demonstrator for Quality Meat Scotland at the Royal Highland Show and has even accepted an invitation to work at Harrods. Providing a great example of the hoof to hook traditional butcher, Gary even finds time to raise his own cattle.

Douglas Scott, Chief Executive of the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders added:-

“Gary’s enthusiasm and passion for the business has driven him to great success. This award celebrates the fantastic commitment and confidence that the youth in today’s retail meat industry portray. Traditional butchery skills remain at the heart of each and every business. No matter where you are based this award is all about excellence and his customers in Aberdeenshire should be rightly proud of their rising star.”

• PICTURES FROM THE AWARDS CEREMONY