THE new Scottish Bread Championships will feature at this year's RHS, as part of Scotland’s Larder Live! This builds on the success last year of Scottish ice-creams’ first appearance at the Scottish Dairy Championships.

The inaugural Scottish Bread Championships marks the first time real bread has been highlighted at the show, and the awards, created and convened by Scotland the Bread and the Scottish Food Guide, are open to both professional and amateur bakers. All submissions in each of the seven categories must be made without the use of processing aids or any other artificial additives.

Andrew Whitley, a founding director of Scotland The Bread, said, “The Championships are a great showcase for a new generation of bakers who are working hard to bring nourishing and tasty bread from local wheats to everyone in the land.”

Competition is already fierce in the Scottish Dairy Championships as cheeses, ice-creams, sorbets and butter all battle it out for top spot in their individual categories.

Experts from across the Scottish food industry will judge these awards: Norman Ruby and Tanny Gill will bring their expertise to cheese, Jannettas Gelateria to ice-cream and Jim Mathie to butter.

Owen Hazel, owner of long-established Jannettas Gelateria in St Andrews, said, “The Royal Highland Show is such an important date in most farmers’ and producers’ calendars. It’s an opportunity to come together at Scotland’s premier agricultural show to sample, celebrate and champion the producers and manufacturers of dairy and ice-cream excellence within Scotland. I am delighted to have been invited to judge at this year’s show and I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Scotland’s Larder Live! is the Royal Highland Show’s annual celebration of the best of Scottish food and drink with over 100 exhibitors expected this year, including the pick of artisan producers from across the UK. It’s the chance for makers to meet consumers and for visitors to find foodie favourites or taste something new. Fresh additions this year include Baxters, Lockerbie Creamery and Rora Dairy.

RHASS chief steward John Sinclair said, “Scotland’s Larder Live! offers an inspiring platform for the best food and drink producers from both Scotland and further afield. Visitors to the show have the rare opportunity to meet these makers and give valuable feedback.”