Diamond daze for Newton Stewart butcher

A Newton Stewart family butcher has scored perfect marks to lift the industry’s top award for a “Make It With Haggis” product.
John D. Owen & Son secured the Scottish Craft Butchers (SCB) ultimate Diamond Award for their “Haggis Nest”, wowing the judges into a rare 70 out of 70 score.
Owner Kenny Owen learned the news of the product’s nation-beating success while on route to holiday in Italy and immediately forewarned his staff that they would have to up production of the Diamond winner.

“This product has sold well since we first introduced it around a year ago but I guess it’s going to sell even better now that it’s a champion,” he said.
“I’m absolutely gobsmacked to know we achieved the perfect score. It’s a surprise and a thrill to win the top Diamond award for the haggis nest but to take maximum points is just amazing. We’re absolutely delighted.”
Kenny is the third generation Owen to run the popular family butcher business, backed by a team of eight. He has over 40 years’ experience in the trade.
“We make our own traditional family recipe haggis and use it in a variety of products ranging from chicken and haggis pies to sausages,” he explained. “The nest features a 4oz deluxe burger shaped into a cup, brushed with a plain marinade and filled with a mixture of haggis, streaky bacon, red onion and creamy pepper sauce. It really is tasty!
“It also meets increasing modern demands for oven-ready products by being sold in a foil tray ready for cooking.”
Kenny had been anxious entering the product for evaluation as it had to be couriered all the way from Newton Stewart to Stirling for the competition.
“I didn’t know if it would survive the journey, but it obviously travelled well,” he laughed. “We’ve been tweaking the recipe for our haggis nest ever since we introduced it. It’s great to know it’s now as good as it can be and we can all relax a little.”
The haggis nest was up against another 144 products in the Scotweigh-sponsored Make It With Haggis evaluations, the results of which were revealed at Scottish Craft Butchers biennial Trade Fair in Perth at the weekend.
SCB Executive Manager Gordon King said Kenny and his team had delivered “the perfect product”.
“To achieve the perfect score with our panel of independent judges is just remarkable,” said Gordon. “It didn’t drop a single point when up against a strong field of some amazingly good rivals.
“The range of products entered for the ‘Make It With Haggis’ evaluation shows just how versatile haggis is and the many innovative and delicious ways our local independent butchers are adapting it into versatile and popular dishes.”

Ends

For further information please contact Press Officer Maureen Young on 07778-779-888
or
Gordon King, Executive Manager Scottish Craft Butchers on 07917524313

2023_Make_it_With_Haggis_Results.pdf