Watch: Love it or hate it? Shropshire butcher's Marmite sausage gamble pays off with awards glory

Morgan’s Country Butchers, of Waters Upton, near Newport, won two gongs at the National Craft Butchers Awards, held at Harper Adams University.

The Shropshire family firm, which was up against an array of the finest butchers from up and down the country, won the Judge’s Choice trophy for its Gloucester Old Spot sausage, and the Innovative Sausage category for its Marmite and cheese sausage.

The sausages are the creation of master butcher Darren Morgan, ably assisted by daughter Lauren and the rest of the team.

More than 200 products were entered from 25 counties across England and Wales.

Lauren said of the Marmite and cheese sausage: “It was a risky one to put in because clearly there is a divide! But customers got behind it so we thought we’d go for it.

“It’s a team effort. Once a month the whole team get together and we think what new sausage could we make? What’s trendy? What’s seasonal? What’s going on at that time of year?

“Dad’s the expert with the pork. He’s like a magician. He knows what cuts to use and only he can choose the fat.

“We had a few tests and then we said ‘that’s our new sausage’.”

Morgan’s has been a prominent butchers in the county and beyond for many years, with Darren and Lauren appearing on This Morning with Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby a few years ago after winning Britain’s Best Sausage, and meeting with the Hairy Bikers. The late Dave Myers was a regular customer.

Lauren added: “We’re always trying to come up with new sausages and we’re keen to champion native beef, rare breed pork and heritage lamb breeds. 

“We like to showcase what we do for the industry to encourage people to go to their local butchers to show they can get something different and it tastes much better.”

National Craft Butchers (NCB), a trade association that has supported and encouraged excellence in its members for 137 years, judged the content.

Judges evaluated the products for their taste, smell, and appearance among other criteria. 

The 2025 judging panel included  master butchers, farmers and technical experts led by head judge Keith Fisher.

Products which reached the gold standard were then independently re-evaluated before the category winners were decided.

Eleanor O’Brien, NCB Managing Director said: “It’s been another competition of high quality, innovative, and creative entries from craft butchers. All our members strive for excellence in the taste and flavour of their products and our winners really exemplify this.”

For the full list of winners in NCB Product Awards, visit nationalcraftbutchers.co.uk/news/