New 'black' bacon from Buchanan's in Northern Ireland

Buchanan's Foods, the Northern Irish specialist meat producer, has launched a new 'Black Dry Cured Bacon' to its extensive portfolio of beef, lamb and bacon products.

The family-owned and managed business has created the new black bacon by developing a new dry curing process that features treacle.

The small producer, based on a family farm near Upperlands in county Derry, has a reputation for creating innovative bacon products in addition to its award winning expertise in rearing free-range turkeys. It has already introduced a unique and successful bacon smoked slowly over traditional Irish turf.

The company has won a series of UK Great Taste Awards for its turkey and bacon products. The new bacon retails at £2.79 for four thick slices.

Jonathan Buchanan, who runs the farm business with wife Lois, commenting on the new bacon, says: "We have a strong on innovation because we realise that consumers are continually seeking different taste experiences.

"In addition to our free-range turkeys, we have developed a range of deliciously different meats especially lamb, bacon and gammon, which are all hand produced by us and are fully traceable with providence and heritage."

The couple set up the business in 2000 to specialise in free-range turkeys for the Northern Ireland marketplace. It has developed turkey breast meat aged in a small Himalayan salt chamber on the farm and also has its own smoker.

As well as selling its products through its own farm shop, Buchanan's also supplies delis and independent stores in Northern Ireland with its turkeys and range of bacon products. It has also created a range of a range of flavoured pork and beef sausages and lamb burgers.