ONE of Northern Ireland's best known food firms has won new business at the Ritz in London.
Abernethy Butter will supply the iconic hotel with its artisan salted and unsalted butter.
The award-winning business already supplies Ashford Castle in Co Mayo, one of the Republic's most respected hotels.
Allison Abernethy, who runs the business with husband Will, the butter maker at Dromara said the orders followed direct approaches from top chefs in the two five-star hotels.
“We were delighted to have been approached by the chefs about supplying two of the three butters in our range,” she said.
“The Ritz in particular is among the world’s best known and most exclusive hotels. It’s great to see our salted and unsalted butter being served to guests from all over the world. Ashford Castle, located near Galway, is also one of the most popular with international tourists to Ireland.
“The new business is very exciting and is a tremendous endorsement of the consistently high quality and outstanding taste of our handmade and hand rolled butter,” Allison adds.
Formed in 2005, Abernethy Butter has developed into one of Northern Ireland’s most successful artisan businesses with top chefs such as Heston Blumenthal, Marcus Wareing and Andy McFadden among its high profile customers.
It already supplies major stores such as Fortnum and Mason, Harrods and Selfridges in London and Fenwicks in Newcastle as well as delis throughout the UK.
The butter is made using traditional techniques at the Abernethy's 66-acre Beechtree Farm.
They source cream for the butter from cows grazing in Co Antrim and all that is added to the natural butter is a pinch of salt.
Abernethy Butter was the only Northern Ireland artisan business included in the recent UK Food Stars initiative, which aimed to strengthen the UK's reputation internationally as a good food nation. It showcases small businesses which are driving innovation across Britain and is focused on helping the stars grow sales abroad.
