Peter Hannan’s visionary plans for growth of tasty food
Food lovers here and abroad are set for a major boost from a significant investment
being undertaken by Peter Hannan, the award-winning meat entrepreneur, near
Moira in Co Down.
The owner of multi-award-winning Hannan Meats in the village, one of the UK and
Ireland’s most successful processors of premium meats, Peter is developing a
visionary artisan food hub for smaller producers that could mean a host of new foods
and greater availability of existing products here and abroad.
Peter has acquired the former Tannery bar/restaurant, a 10,000 square foot site with
surrounding land, outside the picturesque village and plans to convert it into state-of
the-art facilities for smaller food producers.
Already lined up for the development are Abernethy Butter and Ispini Charcuterie,
two award-winning artisan enterprises.
“We’ve exciting plans for the site that will assist the growth of our artisan sector that’s
been making a significant contribution locally and in Britain and the Republic,” says
Peter. “It’s a sector with immense potential in both short and long-terms,” he adds.
Peter acquired Abernethy Butter a couple of months ago on the retirement of
founders Will and Allison Abernethy and vowed to ramp up production of the unique
butter to meet the growing demand from restaurants, fine food retailers and bakeries
in Britain and broad.
His aims to make the luxury butter, launched in 2005 in Dromara, Co Down, by the
Abernethys, more widely available. He stepped in buy the business to ensure the
survival of the widely acclaimed butter that’s used by top chefs, food stylists
including Nigella Lawson and iconic London retailers Fortnum and Mason and
Harrod’s.
He’s also been working closely with Ispini owner Jonathan Cuddy to increase sales
of the award-winning cured meats. This has included a distribution agreement with
Craigavon’s Craic Foods, a small company Peter owns with chef Paul Clarke
producing relishes, chutneys and other products for chefs in particular. Some of the
products developed by Craic Foods may also be switched on completion of the new
food hub.
