Aubrey Allen butchers take European gold in France

Michael Perkins and Martin Crombie, the butchery team from catering butchers Aubrey Allen, have walked away with gold at the European butchery competition held at the food exhibition Sirha in Lyon, France.

The top prize was awarded to the pair on Sunday 25 January and bodes well for other UK competitors competing at the international hospitality and food exhibition where chef Adam Bennett is now waiting to hear the result and his teams placing at the Bocuse d'Or.

Perkins and Crombie saw off four French teams and teams from Switzerland, Belgium and Guadeloupe. Both have worked for Aubrey Allen since they were 16 years old.

Russell Allen, whose grandfather started Aubrey Allen in 1933, said: "It was fantastic to have been able to support the team through the competition. We had to bring all our equipment and presentation stand across on the plane and one of those items, a large mirror base went missing after the flight.

Fortunately the airline couriered it to us within seconds of the competition starting. Michael and Martin kept their cool throughout and we are really proud of them."

The butcher's trade is given pride of place in this international competition and is organised by the Rhône branch of the Butchers' Union. The 2015 theme was ‘Meats from the Rhône-Alpes region in all their nobility'.