Scotland crowns new beefburger and black pudding champions

Two of Scotland's finest craft butchers are celebrating after being crowned national champions in the latest Scottish Craft Butchers competitions.

Family butcher Hugh Black & Sons has been named Scottish Beefburger Champion 2026, while S. Cronnie Family Butcher in Newton Stewart has secured the title of Scottish Black Pudding Champion 2026.

The awards recognise some of the country's best independent meat producers and showcase the skill and craftsmanship that continue to underpin Scotland's butchery sector.

Hugh Black & Sons, which operates 13 shops across central Scotland from Cambuslang to Lochgelly, impressed judges with a hand-crafted beefburger made using brisket and chuck cuts. The company, which employs around 170 people across its retail and production operations, said the award reflected the dedication of staff throughout the business.

Director Hugh Black described the win as one that had long eluded the business.

"This title has always eluded us and we're absolutely thrilled to win it for all our staff and our customers," he said.

Meanwhile, one of Scotland's smallest black pudding producers pulled off a notable upset in the Scottish Black Pudding Championship.

S. Cronnie Family Butcher, a family-run business in Newton Stewart, produces just 20lbs of black pudding each week but secured the national title on the product's first competitive outing.

Owner Steven Cronnie said the win was "a dream come true".

"A wee country bumpkin like me beating some of the best-known butchers in Scotland, it's terrific," he said.

Cronnie's black pudding was praised by judges for its balance of flavour and texture, while the butcher attributes part of its success to using pork fat and a carefully developed recipe unique to the business.

The latest titles highlight the breadth of talent across Scotland's independent butchery sector, from one of the country's largest family-owned butcher businesses to a small rural producer competing on a national stage.

Gordon King, Executive Manager of Scottish Craft Butchers, said both winners demonstrated the quality and passion found within the industry.

The organisation noted that success in national competitions is increasingly driven by attention to detail, quality ingredients and traditional hand-crafted production methods, regardless of the size of the business.

For consumers, the awards offer a guide to some of the country's standout products, whether that's a championship-winning burger available through Hugh Black & Sons' network of shops or a black pudding crafted in small batches in Newton Stewart.

Both champions are now expected to see increased demand following their national success.

• 

• 

•