Peter Hannan Northern Ireland's Business Personality 2017

Peter Hannan, managing director of multi-award winning Hannan Meats, has been named Northern Ireland's Business Personality of 2017.

Mr Hannan was chosen at the prestigious UTV Business Eye Awards, Northern Ireland's leading business event.

The awards, now entering their 12th year, are among the most significant in Northern Ireland. UTV, part of ITV, is the region's leading television broadcaster. Business Eye is a prominent business magazine.

Mr Hannan has led the business he formed over 20 years ago to outstanding success in many of the UK and Ireland's most important food and business awards.

The company, based at Moira in county Down, has twice won the supreme champion title in the UK Great Taste Awards, the only business to win the award twice.

The company has won more gold stars for the outstanding quality and taste of its meats, beef, lamb and bacon, than any other business in the UK and Ireland.

Hannan Meats won the Great Taste Golden Fork for Northern Ireland in this year's Great Taste Awards and had its dry-aged lamb product listed in the Top 50 Foods.

In addition, the company, which employs around 50 people, gained a gold award for its steak at this year's Blas na hEireann Awards at the annual food festival in Dingle, county Kerry.

Mr Hannan has pioneered the dry-ageing of beef and lamb in the world's biggest complex of Himalayan salt chambers at its Northern Ireland plant. He also introduced the curing of bacon in a unique sugar pit.

The company supplies many of the UK and Ireland's high-end restaurants, including those of celebrity chefs Mark Hix and Terry Laybourne. It exports meat to top restaurants in France, Portugal and the Far East. As well as supplying restaurants, Hannan Meats is an exclusive supplier to Fortnum and Mason in London.

Mr Hannan, in addition, is a proactive supporter of Northern Ireland food and drink and has helped many smaller enterprises on the road to success, especially outside Northern Ireland.