Top food hall lists Peter Hannan’s multi-award-winning Abernethy Butter
Abernethy Butter, Northern Ireland’s multi-award-winning handcrafted butter, will
soon be on sale at Marks and Spencer’s (M&S) popular network of food halls here
and in the Republic of Ireland.
High-end food specialist M&S has become the first food supermarket to offer the
luxury butter that’s preferred by many of the UK and Ireland’s top chefs, including
celebrities Heston Blumenthal, Marcus Wareing, and acclaimed food stylist Nigella
Lawson.
The deal to supply M&S food halls across the island is a major breakthrough in sales
of the hand churned and hand rolled butter for entrepreneur Peter Hannan, the new
owner of the innovative small business, and his team in Moira.
The company has just listed a special date and rum butter for Christmas season.
Peter, the founder and managing director of Hannan Meats, one of the UK and
Ireland’s leading producers of premium beef, pork and lamb for local and export
markets, acquired Abernethy Butter in March, after founders Will and Allison
Abernethy decided to retire and placed the artisan enterprise on the market.
Commenting on the M&S deal, Peter, one of the UK’s most successful and
respected business leaders, says: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured this
significant listing with such a respected and pioneering food business as M&S.
“The deal moves our superb butter range on to another level with premium food halls
and provides an opportunity for more people here and in the Republic to enjoy a
genuinely world class and outstandingly tasty Northern Ireland product.
“The M&S listing is also an important boost for our efforts to pinpoint and develop
opportunities that we’ve identified in Ireland, in Britain and especially further afield for
this excellent creamy butter.
“Abernethy Butter is a wonderful range, and we are investing extensively to ensure
greater recognition and success for the product in key markets.
“I am convinced that Abernethy Butter has enormous growth potential especially in
Britain, the Republic of Ireland and abroad. Our production has already doubled in
the past three months from the additional sales, and is likely to double again in the
next six months,” adds Peter.
The unique butter was developed and launched by Will, a Dromara, Co Down farmer
and former nurse Allison Abernethy in 2005. Over the years, the distinctive patted
rolls of butter have built up something of a cult following, with listings in Harrods and
Fortnum & Mason in London, and a number of awards including an impressive string
of coveted UK Great Taste ‘stars’.
Production is currently being relocated to new premises in the Moira area, a 12,000
square foot facility on the site of a former pub/restaurant, and ramped up to meet
high demand for the butter.
Peter sees Abernethy Butter as one of the main operations in an artisan food hub
he’s planning for the complex. It will eventually offer scope for visitors to see the
butter being made by hand.
In addition to Abernethy Butter, Peter has a role with Ispini Charcuterie, also based
in Moira and an award-winning producer of cured meats that have won a host of
awards for outstanding taste.
His other food business interests include En Place Foods in Cookstown, an
innovator and producer of award-winning products for the catering/hospitality sector,
and CRAIC Foods in Craigavon, a producer and marketer of sauces, chutneys and
jams for retail. Both companies have also won UK Great Taste and Blas na hEireann
awards. CRAIC also provides wholesale and distribution for other artisan food
producers here. Peter is in partnership with chef/businessman Paul Clarke in both
these enterprises. Paul has also contributed to the development of Abernethy Butter
products.
A director of Food NI, the local independent food promotion agency, Peter also
assists the growth of other artisan companies through the Meat Merchant in Moira, a
hugely popular butchery and deli venture, and through his extensive international
network of food contacts.
M&S has 22 stores in Northern Ireland, including Simply Food outlets in central
Belfast, Forestside and Sprucefield, and a further 18 in the Republic of Ireland. The
network now includes an ultra-modern M&S Simply Food Hall in Belfast’s recently
opened Grand Central travel hub.
The first M&S store to be developed in a local travel complex, it opened last
Wednesday and is operated by SSP Group, which already manages 54 M&S Simply
Food stores across the UK.
The Grand Central store, which sells freshly-baked pastries, salads and sandwiches,
as well as ready meals, wood-fired pizzas and confectionery, represents a further
substantial by the retailer in the local economy.
The ongoing investment, furthermore, includes sourcing innovative food and drink
from a growing number of local artisan producers.
Other listings of local food artisans this year include: Irish Black Butter, Portrush;
Corndale Charcuterie, Limavady; Burren Balsamics, Armagh; Melting Pot Fudge,
Belfast; and Natural Umber Apple Cider Vinegar from Dungannon.
