SALTCOATS bakers Stephen and Rona McAllister scooped the World Scotch Pie Championship for the second time.

The owners of The Kandy Bar won a host of awards at the Scotch Pie Club’s event in Cumbernauld, having already previously taken the title of World Scotch Pie Champion in 2013.

And the runner-up was another local firm, Beth Browning’s Bakery in Kilwinning.

The small business managed to break a record by becoming the first-ever new entry to scoop second place for their Scotch pie.

The Herald spoke to Stephen just after his win and he was ecstatic.

He said: “I’m speechless. It’s great to win it but for us to achieve it for a second time is phenomenal. I’m amazed and over the moon, not just for me but for the entire team at The Kandy Bar who have all worked really hard.”

A record entry of 100 butchers and bakers entered over 500 pies, pasties, sausage rolls, bridies, savouries and apple pies into the competition, which is supported by Scottish Bakers.

Judged by 50 experts, and football legend Jim Leishman, 10 category winners were selected

But there could only be one World Champion Scotch Pie.

Stephen said: “It was a fantastic day. We won a Gold Award for our large apple tart, another for our sausage roll, a Silver Award for our mince bridie, and our Scotch pie won Best Football Pie. But the icing on the cake, as a baker would say, was winning the Scottish Pie Championship!

“Every butcher and baker in that room is sitting on the edge of their seats when the winner is about to be announced. Everybody wants to be the Scotch Pie Champion. It’s so surreal to win.”

“It’s great for Saltcoats, West Kilbride, Kilwinning and the wider community.”

Stephen was hopeful that winning the title for a second time could earn the local business some extra dough.

Asked how he was going to celebrate his win, he told the Herald: “Our feet won’t touch the ground for a couple of days. It’s going to be an amazing journey. The pie sales are going to go up after this, which will be fantastic, so we’ll need to prepare for that fast. It’s a crazy time but I’m still as excited and nervous as I was the last time we won.”

George McMillan, manager at Beth Browning’s Bakery, told the Herald: “We can’t believe it. We never in a million years thought we would be named the first runner up in the world. This was the first time we’d entered and the only time a first entry had ever done that. The judges had never seen it before. When we were on that stage, you could have knocked us down with a feather. It’s just blown us away.

“It’s not really sunk in yet because we’ve not really had a chance to think about it. It’s been great for business, which has really taken off. It’s went haywire in here. The day we won there were actually people waiting outside the shop to get in and try our pies.”

George revealed that there was a bit of friendly rivalry between his bakery and The Kandy Bar. He said: “I know Stephen very well and I went up to him afterwards to get a hold of that trophy. I was winding him up saying that I’ll be getting it next year!”

Head judge Ian Nelson oversaw the judging process to ensure only the best pies were recognised and that only the best of the best was crowned world champion. He said: “The competition, which has run for 17 years, aims to highlight that bakers and butchers create high quality artisan pastry products. Recognising the “great and the good” in this way rewards excellence and raises the bar in the industry.”

Alan Clarke of Scottish Bakers congratulated The Kandy Bar on their win. He said: “Once again we have brought together the best pies and baked goods in the land and today we can really celebrate the achievement of our hard working butchers and bakers. My heartfelt congratulations go to our winner, and indeed everyone today taking away a prize, they are all winners in my book.”

TV presenter and entrepreneur Carol Smillie, who presented Stephen with his award, said “I had a feeling Stephen would be over the moon but even I couldn’t have prepared myself for the sheer elation.”

Stephen added: “This award is proof that The Kandy Bar team is the best in the land. I am really looking forward to the year ahead and to selling more of our winning pies than ever.”