FIVE butchers from Scotland have been announced as finalists in the Butcher's Shop of the Year 2017 awards.

Two of those five shops have been shortlisted for the top award of Scottish Butcher's Shop of the Year – 2016's winner, S Collins and Son, of Glasgow, and Bert Fowlie Family Butcher, of Aberdeenshire.

In the New Butchery Business of the Year category, Burntisland Butchers, of Fife, have been shortlisted, while Hunters of Kinross are finalists in the Innovation of the Year category. That business has been lauded due to the team there raising £5000 to provide community defibrillators, and CPR training to 150 residents in Kinross-shire.

Finally, QMS' master butcher, Stewart McClymont, from the Smiddy Butchery, Blair Drummond, has been shortlisted in the new business category.

Now in its 24th year, the awards, sponsored by the Meat Trades Journal, see each business judged by a panel of industry experts, including butchers and consultants with years of experience within the meat industry.

Each shop will be visited over the next few weeks to assess their businesses, and how the staff work and interact with their customers.

QMS marketing executive Graeme Sharp said: “It’s great to see members of the Scotch Butchers Club once again featuring in the awards. Each of these businesses has complete dedication to their craft and it is very rewarding to see them get the recognition they deserve. Our very best wishes go to all five Scottish finalists at this year’s awards."

The awards will take place on Monday, November 6, 2017, at County Hall, London.