Northern Irish Ispini Charcuterie in BBC Food and Farming shortlist

Ispini Charcuterie, the Northern Irish producer of salami, chorizo and other cured meats, has been shortlisted in the prestigious BBC Food and Farming Awards 2018.

The farm-based business has been listed in 'Best Food Producer' category in the annual awards to be announced later this year.

Pig farmer Jonny Cuddy, who runs the charcuterie enterprise with sister Janice, says: "We are delighted and immensely excited to be named in the final three of the Best Producer Category."

The company, based on the family farm at Aughnacloy in county Tyrone, as named last year in the Top 50 Foods in the UK Great Taste Awards.

Jonny has been farming with father Raymond and brother Robert since leaving university and now looks after around 300 sows on the farm. Jonny also studied charcuterie with curing expert Chris Moorby at the School of Artisan Foods in Nottinghamshire before launching his own small business.

He has since developed a wide range of cured meats for independent retailers and foodservice operations in Northern Ireland. He also pioneered the development of innovative chorizo beer sticks.

"Northern Ireland has everything we need, especially an abundance of great meat, to create a successful charcuterie business," he adds. "Our meat is produced using the highest animal welfare standards to ensure outstanding flavours and premium quality."

Ispini's listing follows prevous successes of other Northern Ireland producers Abernethy Butter and Islander Kelp in the BBC awards.