A BUTCHER from Wemyss Bay is bringing home the bacon after seeing off competition from the likes of Aldi to win an industry 'Oscar'.

Nigel Ovens, of Mearns T McCaskie, is celebrating success at the prestigious Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2019 in recognition of his unsmoked dry cure back bacon.

The breakfast favourite was crowned best Scotch product at the event in Edinburgh on Thursday.

McCaskie's native breed sirloin steak was also a finalist in the same category.

The Wemyss Bay butcher was up against goods from Aldi and acclaimed Midlothian butcher Campbell Brothers at the prizegiving.

McCaskie's boss Nigel was presented with the award by food critic and broadcaster Jay Rayner, who is a regular on TV shows including Masterchef.

He said: "We are so delighted to have won this prestigious award.

"With so much competition this year, it is testament to our hard-working team and to my family with whom I run the business.

"We're extremely proud of our heritage and being a traditional family business specialising in quality meat and meat products.

"As with all McCaskie products, our bacon range is hand produced in small batches in order that we can ensure premium quality control. "Our bacon only uses 100 per cent Scottish specially selected pork and our cure is made to a special recipe which has been passed down through the generations. "The end result is a supremely tasty bacon.

"Our bacon sells really well across the counter in our shop in Wemyss Bay, but we also sell it throughout the country via our website and to a number of Scotland's top restaurants.

"I am so proud to be taking a Scotland Food & Drink trophy home on my first visit to these awards and can't wait for more people to taste our winning bacon."

Mr Ovens runs the Shore Road business, which was established in 1935, with his wife and his parents.

His mother is the daughter of founder Mearns T McCaskie - Mr Ovens' grandfather - and has been working there for over 50 years.

The Scottish Food & Drink accolade is McCaskie's most prestigious award to date and will now sit proudly alongside a string of trophies for other products, including their famous haggis and black pudding.