Davidsons Specialist Butchers claims north of Scotland title

CUSTOMERS of Davidsons Specialist Butchers have been enjoying its gluten free black pudding for years.

Now the company – which has shops in Elgin and Inverurie – has attracted nationwide attention after lifting the North of Scotland regional title in the 2024 Scottish Black Pudding Championship.

More than 60 of the country’s leading independent Scottish butchers entered the Black Pudding Championship, run by Scottish Craft Butchers, with the winners announced at Elgin’s Laichmoray Hotel.

Davidsons Specialist Butchers owner John Davidson said: “We have been making and selling gluten free black pudding for about six years, but this was the first time we decided to go head-to-head with some of the best producers in the country.

‘I can hardly believe it’s been judged the best in the north of Scotland region – we are all absolutely thrilled.”

When John bought over the butcher’s business 20 years ago, he was selling black pudding supplied by various other producers.

“I always wanted to make our own black pudding,” he said. “But it’s notoriously difficult to get right and it took us a good few years of trial and error to hit on something we considered the perfect product.

“Our customers always enjoy it and now we know it is a black pudding that can stand up alongside the best in Scotland – we are so, so proud.”

John has mastered the skill of deconstructing favourite recipes to recreate several products as gluten free, using ingredients sourced both locally and further afield.

“It’s a labour of love getting the flavour and texture just right,” he said “But their success speaks for itself.

“This regional title has proved a real lift for the whole team. It caused a real buzz and plenty fists punched in the air. I’m sure our customers will be just as thrilled.”

Scottish Craft Butchers executive manager Gordon King said Davidsons Specialist Butchers was a worthy regional winner.

He said: “Every butcher in Scotland wants to win a title in the Black Pudding Championship. It’s an iconic product.

“We had an extremely strong field of top entries from across Scotland and those who won regional titles were of an exceedingly high standard.

“John Davidson and his team produced a fabulous product that captured the votes of our judges and was worthy of a regional championship and a reserve slot in the whole of Scotland.”

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