Aberdeenshire-based bakery J&I Smith Bakers has secured a place on the shortlist of the 18th World Scotch Pie Awards.

The bakery put forward eight different products for the competition, but will have to wait until 11 January 2017 to find out which of its products has been nominated.

A panel of 50 professional experts judged 500 entries from butchers and bakers into 11 categories

John Smith Jnr, director of J&I Smith, told British Baker that he was very excited to be shortlisted for the competition.

“We’re in the running for one of the awards, I’ve been trying to find out which product has been nominated, but they won’t tell you until the ceremony at the beginning of January, he said.

“One of the products we entered was an apple pie and the other seven were savoury goods. I think it will depend on the judges on the day whether we will win something. I feel confident in my products, and if we win any award of any kind, it’s an achievement.”