Highland bakeries shortlisted for pie world championship
Pies in the north of Scotland have been given the seal of approval at a global level.
Ashers Bakery, Cafe V8 in Inverness and Macleans Highland Bakery of Forres have all been shortlisted for the 2025 World Championship Scotch Pie Awards.
Pies were put to the test in an intense judging day where 539 products entered by 88 top butchers, bakers, and pie makers.
Under the scrutiny of 50 expert judges, entries were assessed on taste, touch, appearance and smell across multiple categories.
A spokesperson for Cafe V8 said: “We are thrilled to announce that we have once again been shortlisted for this year’s World Championship Scotch Pie Awards!
“This year marks the 25th anniversary of the awards, and with more than 500 entries, we think we've done pretty well for a truck stop in the Highlands, achieving this honour for the 11th consecutive year!
“Having already secured two silver and one bronze at the British Pie Awards, we can’t wait to find out our ranking in the Scottish region!
“We may be a bit biased, but our pies are a significant part of our success at V8, and if you’ve tasted them, you’ll understand why!”
The winner of the Scotch Pie category will be crowned world champion, alongside all Best in Category winners, at a prestigious awards event on May 10 at the Hilton, Glasgow.
Scottish Bakers, the association which supports the interests of Scotland's bakery trade, organises the annual competition to shine a light on the craft skills pie makers demonstrate day in and day out.
Now in its 25th year, the competition is marking a quarter-century of pie-making excellence with the launch of Scottish Bakers’ ‘Pieoneers’ campaign, celebrating the skill, craftsmanship, and innovation of butchers, bakers, and pie makers across Scotland.
Lesley Cameron, chief executive of Scottish Bakers, said:
"This year marks a truly special milestone as we celebrate 25 years of the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards.
“Over the past quarter-century, this competition has become the ultimate showcase for the craft, passion, and innovation of Scotland’s butchers, bakers, and pie makers.
“Every pie tells a story, of heritage recipes passed down through generations, of new ideas pushing the boundaries, and of the sheer dedication to producing products that are loved by communities across the country.
“We look forward to crowning our winners in May and shining a well-deserved spotlight on the very best in our industry."
