Following evaluations and product judging on 4th September, trade body National Craft Butchers (NCB) has recently announced the winners of its 2025 National Craft Butchers Product Awards.

Morgans & NCB - Judges Choice 2025

Source: National Craft Butchers

Morgan’s Country Butchers took home the NCB Judges Choice Award.

The awards are designed to highlight outstanding products that are made every day by skilled craft butchers throughout the UK.

Over 200 products were entered this year from NCB members, including butchers across 25 counties, from the South West to the North East, and Wales.

There are nine categories, including traditional sausages and hot and cold pies, all assessed in blind tastings by a designated judging panel.

Product Award Winners are:

  • Best 30 Minute Meal – Gigli’s Butcher’s, Lytham St Annes for its Chicken & Wild Mushroom, Gratin Potatoes & Roasted Vegetables
  • Best Cold Eating Pie – Owen Taylor & Sons, Alfreton, Derbyshire for its Stilton Pork Pie
  • Best Traditional Bacon – Owen Taylor & Sons, Alfreton, Derbyshire for its Homecured Streaky Bacon
  • Best Traditional Sausage – Robinsons Butchers of Tettenhall, Wolverhampton for its Breakfast Sausage
  • Best Innovative Bacon – Taylor Meats, Herne Bay, Kent for its Black Garlic, Dry Cured Streaky Bacon
  • Best Game Product – J W Mettrick & Son Ltd, Glossop, Derbyshire for its Venison, Pancetta and Red Wine Pie
  • Best Black Pudding – Perrys of Eccleshall Ltd, Staffordshire for its Black Pudding
  • Best Innovative Sausage – Morgan’s Country Butchers, Telford, Shropshire for its Marmite & Cheese Sausage
  • Best Hot Eating Pie – Mike Maloney Country Butchers & Bakers Ltd, Tuxford, Nottinghamshire for its Desperate Dan Steak & Stilton Pie

Following the overall judging, each individual judge was asked to select their personal ‘standout’ product from all the products they had evaluated and which they felt was worthy of the special ‘Judges Choice’ award. The products shortlisted for this award were then reviewed again by the whole panel of judges to agree an overall winner.

Morgan’s Country Butchers, Telford, Shropshire took the top award for its Gloucester Old Spot Sausage. The judges felt it was a superb example of a first class sausage.

Eleanor O’Brien, managing director of National Craft Butchers, commented: “The Product Awards celebrate the very best of our members’ craft. They give butchers the recognition they deserve and help customers see the quality available on their doorstep.”

The full list of awards can be found here.

Topics