Aldi Scotland has named a new winner of its much-loved pie tester competition, with Kintore local Craig Duguid (50) selected to take on the coveted role of sampling and reviewing the retailer’s pie range.
Now in its second year, the position was created to celebrate Aldi’s Specialbuy pie range, which features a variety of creative fillings, including meatball marinara, Balmoral chicken, and cauliflower, leek and truffle oil.
The national supermarket’s search for a passionate pie enthusiast attracted hundreds of entries from across the UK, but it was Craig’s lifelong love of pies, and an honest, no-nonsense attitude that helped him rise to the top.
A national sales manager for a serviced apartment company, Craig was genuinely surprised to hear that he had won, admitting that he originally entered the competition as a joke after his wife spotted the advert.
“I never win anything, so I couldn’t believe it”, Craig said. “I only entered after my wife showed me the competition and thought I might as well give it a go.”
Originally from Dundee, Craig grew up in Edinburgh and has lived in Aberdeen for the past 25 years, settling in Kintore. His connection to Scotland’s football culture, where matchday pies are a cherished staple, runs deep, particularly through his support of Aberdeen FC at Pittodrie.
Away from the stands, Craig spends much of his weekends coaching local grassroots football team Kintore United AFC, a role he originally took on when his son was young and, in his words, “has never quite managed to retire from since.”
Craig’s passion for pies is rooted in family traditions and football memories. In his winning entry, he described a lifelong appreciation for a proper steak and ale pie with rich gravy and tender meat, recalling childhood meals with his Dundonian grandmother and the family tradition of steak pie on New Year’s Day.
He said the perfect pie, in his view, combines “strong, golden pastry that holds together in your hand, flaky on the outside and soft where it meets the filling, packed with plenty of flavour and thick gravy.”
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Craig added that he would approach the role with honesty and enthusiasm, promising to give clear and genuine feedback on every pie he tastes.
Alan Leslie, Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Craig as our latest pie tester. His passion for pies, strong connection to Scottish food traditions and honest approach made him stand out immediately. We’re very much looking forward to hearing his verdict on our range of pies.”
The pie tester role forms part of Aldi Scotland’s ongoing commitment to celebrating great-tasting, accessible food that reflects the nation’s love of traditional favourites with a modern twist.
