Jarvis Pickle wins annual EBDA Award

The Eyemouth-based firm, a family business run by Susie Upton, her son Jamie and husband Andrew, had been nominated by Berwickshire councillor, Carol Hamilton.

Her colleague, Coun Mark Rowley, an EBDA trustee, told guests of Jarvis Pickle’s startling success over the past three years, growing from a production of 25 pies a week in 2015 to a current output of more than 2,000, and a market stretching from Orkney to the south of England and including the prestiguous London outlet of Fortnum and Mason.

The company’s success was founded on the quality of its largely locally-sourced and traceable ingredients and care in the production of its products, all of which were hand-filled.

Its enterprise had been rewarded by a cluster of awards – six at the 2018 British Pie Awards alone, including the Best Meat Pie in Scotland and an accolade for its cullen skink filling, a Great Taste Award and Manufacturer of the Year in the Scottish Borders Business Excellence Awards.

The company has worked to give something back to underprivileged sectors of the community too and is working with the Cyrenians to help the homeless and vulnerable transform their lives, as well as supporting residential care services and local food banks.

The award was presented by Jeanna Swan, Lord Lieutenant for Berwickshire.

Susie Upton paid tribute to the Jarvis Pickle team, her suppliers and customers, and made special mention of the assistance received from landlord, Alan Cook, in setting up at Acredale, and from Scottish Borders Council.

The EBDA Award is made to a person or organisation who, or which, has made an outstanding contribution in social, economic or environmental fields.