Secret recipe of five-time world champion Scotch Pie is sold to butcher

The secret recipe for Scotland's five-time World Scotch Pie Champion has been sold.

James Pirie and Son's legendary pie is among the closely guarded recipes changing hands as part of a deal involving two of the country's leading independent butchers. It is being sold by the Angus business to McCaskie's Butcher and Café in Inverclyde.

The multi-award-winning butcher will take over the brand and intellectual property of Pirie's, as well as its coveted recipes. The business and Newtyle shop closed earlier this month when owners Alan and Norma Pirie retired following hugely successful careers in the industry.

McCaskie's will increase production of the internationally beloved Pirie Pie, as well as other leading Pirie favourites. Its state-of-the-art small batch production unit is situated in Wemyss Bay.

McCaskie's MD Nigel Ovens commented: "Given Pirie's fabulous heritage, McCaskie's absolutely intends to protect and promote the brand name and recipes, honouring the legendary status owner Alan, his father Jim and wife Norma have established over the past 64 years."

The record-smashing Pirie Pie took home the top prize at the World Scotch Pie Championship in 2024, 2023, 2021, 2020 and 2018. McCaskie's, the current Scottish Black Pudding Champion, has an equally impressive track record of winning national awards for their range of products — including Scotland’s most awarded Haggis.

Pirie's recipe book contains the secret to their national title-winning sausages, pies, bacon and haggis. Meanwhile, McCaskie's own family recipe book dates back generations, and is also under lock and key.

Ovens said McCaskie's were "delighted" to bring both leading brands together to create a bigger catalogue of award-winning recipes than any other butcher.

He continued: "We have a long-standing friendship with the Pirie family and, as they head off to enjoy a well-deserved retirement, McCaskie's will ensure that their life’s work lives on. We’re delighted that Alan will initially act as consultant to our team to ensure the Pirie branded products taste exactly as they always have.

"It’s a real honour to be entrusted with iconic products such as the world-famous Pirie Pie and we intend to make the family proud as we take their brand forward."

Sealing the deal this week, Alan Pirie added: "We can’t think of a better company than McCaskie's to continue the Pirie brand and recipes. Not only are they officially the Best Butcher Shop in the UK, but they have a formidable catalogue of national award-winning products themselves.

"Our families share the same values and commitment to the highest standards of both product and service and we're reassured that the Pirie legacy will be in safe keeping at McCaskie's."

According to McCaskie's, its immediate plans are to focus on building a relationship with Pirie's existing wholesale clients and broaden the distribution of its products to speciality retail outlets and the hospitality sector. A new James Pirie and Son website will also be launched soon, offering a full range of award-winning Pirie products such as pork and beef sausages, haggis, speciality pies, and bacon.

Pirie’s range of pies will also make a welcome addition to McCaskie's growing range of products available in their shop.

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