A family-run butchers shop on the outskirts of Glasgow is celebrating success after being crowned the 'Best In Britain'.
S Collins & Son at Muirhead, in North Lanarkshire, have lifted the industry's top annual national award - Britain's Best Butchers Shop - shortly after securing the Scottish title for an incredible fifth time.
And in a remarkable week, there's been further success with the hugely popular family butchers securing a unique Diamond double in the Q Guild Star Awards at Smithfield, marking two of their products, black pudding, and sirloin steak, as the best in the country.
Founder Stewart Collins could only have dreamed of such successes when he started the business way back in 1955.
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Now, two generations and 67 years on, grandsons Stewart, 49, and brother Fraser, 47, Collins have realised an unprecedented industry triumph for the multi-award-winning butchers. And today the team have shared their delight at adding a British title to their accolades.
"To secure the Scottish title again was a real thrill," said Stewart, "but to go on to be named the Best Butchers in Britain was the real icing on the cake.
"It's an amazing honour and we're so proud of everyone in the business - from the guys who butcher the meat and make the sausages to the team members who serve at the front counter and prepare local and online deliveries.
"Everyone has worked their socks off for the past few years as butchers kept the country fed during the Covid pandemic," explained Stewart. "Everyone went weeks on end without time off and these awards are just reward for everyone's outstanding efforts. It's just recognition for their hard work and dedication."
Stewart explained that the Muirhead shop, which opened in 1979, was invited to enter the Britain's Best Butchers Shop Awards.
This was followed by a robust judging process including site visits by judges and mystery shoppers.
"It's a big thank you to all the team for all the physical, emotional and mental hardships that we've pulled through together," said Stewart. "Best Butchers Shop in Britain. Best in the business. You can't get better than that."
Stewart believes S. Collins & Son's success lies in their combination of modern, forward thinking while never losing sight of traditional values and standards of service that have served the shop so well across the decades.
The company has built an unrivalled reputation for premium quality produce and outstanding service and employs more than 40 staff at its sites at Muirhead and a second within Scotmid at Uddingston.
And two products crafted and sold at the outlets proved national winners lifting coveted Diamond Awards at Smithfield.
"We were recognised as having both the UK's best Sirloin Steak and best Black Pudding," said a delighted Stewart, "lifting the Diamond Award for each - a double accolade that we don't believe has ever been achieved before."
The award-winning black pudding is one of Stewart and Fraser's grandfather's original recipes, hand-mixed and hand-filled with a few tweaks over the years to embrace evolving tastes.
Stewart maintains their equally-successful sirloin steaks are the result of generations of experience.
"The secret lies in buying the right cattle from the right farm and then hanging it in the traditional way for the right length of time," he said.
"Our beef is bought live by our father at Lanark market every Monday from various local farms including Brockwoodless Farm in Canobie and dry-aged for 30 days in our chill. We wait until just the right moment to sell it. Thankfully, the judges think we get it just right too.
"All of our fresh meat is of the highest quality, sourced from local farms and markets and all backed by a full provenance guarantee," explained Stewart. “Our full range of quality products and in-house specialities have gained numerous awards and widespread accolades within the food industry.”
S. Collins & Son say they also pride themselves on their strong community identity and are in no doubt that these latest accolades will delight their customers.
"They'll be really proud," Stewart said. "We buy, sell and recruit locally in North Lanarkshire and these awards are something the whole community can take pride in."
Congratulations on a huge honour for the team at S. Collins & Son!
If you've never visited them, you can find them at 7 Lindsaybeg Rd, Muirhead, Chryston, G69 9DR.
