Perthshire-based business James Pirie & Son has won the 2018 World Scotch Pie Championships.

Running for its 19th year and supported by industry organisation Scottish Bakers, more than 400 products were entered by 80 butchers and bakers across 11 sweet and savoury categories.

Alan Pirie, butcher at James Pirie & Son was presented the award at a luncheon in Cumbernauld, Scotland, by TV presenter and entrepreneur Carol Smillie.

“To have been given the ultimate accolade today and to be able to call our pie the world champion as judged by a panel of experts is just excellent,” Pirie said. “This award is proof of what I have known for a long time - that the James Pirie & Son team is the best in the land. I am really looking forward to the year ahead and to selling more of our champion pies than ever.”

The awards were judged by 50 industry professionals and experts, including head judge Ian Nelson, who assessed the products and named the 11 category winners.

In second place was Tom Courts Quality Foods, with third place going to Beth Brownings Bakery for the Scotch Pie category.

Craig McPhie, president of Scottish Bakers, applauded the hard-working butchers and bakers. “My heartfelt congratulations go to our world champion, and indeed everyone today taking away a prize, they are all winners in my book,” he said.

The 11 category winners are as follows:

James Pirie & Son – Scotch Pie

Brownings the Bakers – Football Pie or Savoury

The Kandy Bar Bakery – Apple Pie

Nevis Bakery – Bridie

Brownings the Bakers – Vegetarian Savoury

Mr C’s Hand-Crafted Pies – Cold Savoury

Goodfellows of Dundee – Macaroni Pie

H W Irvine – Sausage Roll

Irvines Bakery – Steak Pie

Trossachs Pie & Pastry Company – Haggis Savoury

Irvines Bakery – Hot Savoury