23 February 2023 - Flipbook - Page 51
FARMWEEK
FEBRUARY 07 2019
BUSINESS
Speciality show leads to new
Market
opportunities for local firms P54 prices P56
Interview: Emily is driving fast to success
with slow food and smart ideas P53
Abernethy Butter
now available
throughout Britain
51
Major showcase for NI
food and drink in London
By SAM BUTLER
A
ABOVE: Gourmet butter specialists
Will and Allison Abernethy of Abernethy
Butter.
PICTURE: Geoff Telford Photography
By SAM BUTLER
A
BERNETHY Butter, the Northern
Ireland producer of a gourmet range
of handmade butters, has won a
major distribution deal in Britain.
The company, based at Dromara in
County Down, is now supplying its
four-strong range of luxury butters to
Cotswold Fayre, the UK leader in the
distribution of gourmet food and drink.
The deal, Abernethy’s first with a
major distributor of gourmet products
throughout Great Britain and Ireland,
was agreed earlier in the year.
Cotswold Fayre, the leading supplier of
premium products to delis, independent
food stores, farm shops, restaurants and
hotels, is handling the four Abernethy
butters – original, smoked, seaweed and
the recently launched black garlic.
The company, a Food NI member, has
won a string of UK Great Taste Awards
for its products and counts among
its clients top chefs such as Heston
Blumenthal and Marcus Wareing along
with food specialists including Nigella
Lawson.
Other clients include the prestigious
Ritz Hotel in London and Ashford Castle
in County Mayo. Existing retailers in
Britain also include Fortnum and Mason,
Harrods and Selfridges.
Allison Abernethy, who founded the
small company with husband Will, the
butter maker, in 2005, commenting on
the latest deal, says: “We were thrilled
when Cotswold Fayre approached
us about distributing our products.
They told us that the approach was
the outcome of demand from their
customers in Britain for our handmade
butter.
“The agreement gives us access to their
extensive network of customers focused
on gourmet products. It’s a good fit
for us and we look forward to working
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WARD-WINNING food and drink from
Northern Ireland will be showcased
at London’s iconic Borough Market
for St Patrick’s week. The showcase
is being organised by Food NI, the
region’s food and drink promotion body,
in association with business development
agency Invest NI, and follows a successful
presentation over St Patrick’s week last year.
Taking part will be a host of producers that
have been successful in the annual Great
Taste Awards and other regional, national
and international awards. They will be
showing a wide range of products, including
meats, traditional Northern Irish breads,
snacks, sauces and spirits, especially gin.
The colourful presentation will feature
cookery demonstrations by Northern Ireland
celebrity chef Paula McIntyre using the
region’s quality and innovative products.
Food and drink from Northern Ireland will
be on sale at Borough Market from March
13-17 and 20-23.
Michele Shirlow, Food NI chief executive,
commenting on the unique Northern Ireland
showcase, says: “We are delighted to be
returning to Borough Market in 2019 after our
first and hugely successful presentation last
year.
“Companies taking part last year found it a
hugely rewarding initiative last year in terms
of sales and the contacts they developed that
led to ongoing business at the market.
“We found shoppers keen to sample and
buy the products and also to talk to the
people producing them.
“Borough Market is an ideal platform for
producers to reach out to discerning food
shoppers in London and from further afield.
“We are aware that food and drink is
becoming more about who we are than
ever before. Shoppers seek out experiences
than heighten senses, brands that explain
who we are, and as always, they want taste
ICONIC: London’s Borough Market will feature award-winning food and drink from Northern
Ireland during St Patrick’s week.
perfection every time.
“They can count on Northern Ireland
to provide food and drink with heritage,
provenance, authenticity and outstanding
flavours.
“The success of those taking part last
year led to tremendous interest among our
companies in returning or taking part for the
first time. Several newcomers will be showing
food and drink at Borough Market for the
first time in London.
“We plan an immensely colourful and
stimulating presentation during the show…
with loads of opportunities to taste and buy
our finest products.
“And chef Paula McIntyre will be
demonstrating how to combine the products
to create delicious meals,” adds Mrs Shirlow.
Transport for London buyers to meet NI firms
L
ISBURN & Castlereagh City
Council, in partnership
with Northern Ireland
Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (NI Chamber), is
seeking local companies to
register for the upcoming Buyer
Engagement event, featuring
Transport for London (TfL),
taking place on February 19 at
Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn.
The Buyer Engagement event,
which runs from 9.30am1pm, is an opportunity for
potential suppliers to engage
directly with TfL’s procurement
team and learn about supply
opportunities available in areas
such as estimating, contract
management, signalling, rolling
stock, engineering consultancy,
legal services, vehicles and
advertising.
The event will also give
participants an opportunity
to meet representatives from
LEFT:
Alderman
Allan Ewart,
MBE,
Lisburn &
Castlereagh
City Council,
Andrew
Robinson,
Boomer
Industries,
and Ann
McGregor, NI
Chamber.
Transport for London and
learn about their procurement
requirements, network and
develop links with each other
through speed networking,
and access business advice to
support their company’s growth.
Speaking about the event,
Vice-Chairman of the Council’s
Development Committee,
Alderman Allan Ewart MBE,
said: “This is a great event
for potential suppliers to
engage face-to-face with the
procurement team from TfL.
“As a result of our ambitious
investment programme
and networking with key
organisations in London, we
have created this event for new
local suppliers to learn more
about TfL and the potential
opportunities it has coming up.
“This can only be positive for
our local economy and we are
urging businesses to look at
what is on offer and think about
what this could mean in terms
of growing or diversifying their
business.”
Chief Executive of NI Chamber,
Ann McGregor, is delighted
to be partnering with the
council on this initiative and
commented: “This event is a
fantastic opportunity for local
suppliers, as it offers them the
chance to engage with TfL,
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