The Forres-based company add the coveted pie title to more than 50 other awards in regional, national and international competitions.

Previously, Murdoch Brothers have come close by winning a gold award for their Scotch pies but now they have reached the pinnacle.

They supply quality meat products from locally sourced livestock since 1916 and at their retail premises they prepare and manufacture a diverse range of quality products from traditional fresh meat cuts to home-cured bacon and speciality pies.

Now under the third generation of family management, brothers Graham and Ronald provide a personal and quality service.

Murdoch Brothers succeed two-time winner Paul Boyle from Boghall Butchers, Bathgate, and the award was confirmed at a special lunch at Carnegie College, Dunfermline on Wednesday 25 November.

And the award has come at just the right time after the company splashed out on a £700,000 new unit at their store.

They supply to outlets in towns including Forres, Nairn, Inverness, Elgin and Aberdeen along with Dufftown and Aberlour and Ronald, 49, said: “We lost out by half a point two years ago and we were gutted. We were fairly confident we would be there or there abouts this time.

“It’s the same recipe we’ve used for the pies for the last 40 years. My father Daniel handed it down and we’ve used the same recipe in all 11 years of the competition.

“This has come at the most perfect timing for us having just invested so much on the new extension. We’ve taken time to iron out the tweaks in the new equipment and we have taken the size of the premises from 20 metres by 15 metres to around 300 square feet. It was a big investment for us.”

Murdoch Brothers also won a bronze for their pork pie and a gold for their steak pie and Ronald added: “It’s been a fantastic day for us.

The Moray-based brothers beat off strong competition as a record entry of 85 butchers and bakers – 84 of them from Scotland – were represented in the secret judging which was held at Carnegie College earlier this month.

Incidentally, Forres boasts another winner as Lewis Maclean of Maclean’s Highland Bakery won the title in 2003.

Only one other town has produced two winners. R T Stuart of Buckhaven won the title in 2007 and they were followed the next year by W F Stark of Buckhaven.

The popular competition is now in its 11th year and to date no butcher or baker from a major city has won the title.

Buckhaven-based baker and butcher, Alan Stuart, who is the event organiser, said: “The objective is to raise standards in the industry and we believe we have achieved that.

“We were delighted that 80 companies entered this year and we are also encouraged to see a number of new entrants, 15 in total.”