Northern Irish Ispini Charcuterie listed among top UK foods

Ispini Charcuterie from Northern Ireland was placed third in the recently announced BBC Food and Farming Awards in Bristol.

The small batch producer, which is based on a family farm near Aughnacloy in county Tyrone, was the only food from Northern Ireland to be shortlisted in the prestigious annual awards.

The farm business, formed by brother and sister Jonny and Janice Cuddy in 2016, produces a range of air dried and cured meat products including salami, chorizo, bresaola and lomo.

Jonny Cuddy, who raises pigs for the charcuterie on the farm, says: "We were honoured to have been placed in the final three for the Best Food Producer Award. What an opportunity we had to have our charcuterie served to so many of our food heroes."

The BBC Food and Farming Awards recognise and celebrate the originality and quality of food being produced by smaller companies in particular in the UK.

Jonny has been farming with father Raymond and brother Robert since leaving university and now looks after 300 sows on the family farm.

He studied charcuterie and the School of Artisan Foods at Welbeck in Nottinghamshire with Chris Moorby, the charcuterie expert and master butcher at the school.

The company now sells its air-dried meats to delis throughout Northern Ireland and has won UK Great Taste Awards for its products.