Abernethy Butter short listed in BBC Food and Farming Awards

Abernethy Butter, the Northern Irish processor of hand churned butter, has been short listed for the final stages of the prestigious BBC Food and Farming Awards. Based at Dromara in county Down, Abernethy Butter is among three UK Businesses named in the Food Producer of the Year category, the only other Northern Irish entrant to be short listed is St George's Market in Belfast, one of three named in the Best Market category.

Around 6,000 entries from listeners across the UK were received this year by organisers BBC Food Programme. The winners will be announced in May.

Formed and run by husband and wife team Will and Allison Abernethy, the artisan company has already won a string of titles including UK Great Taste Awards.

Abernethy Butter produces hand churned and rolled butter and fudge for customers in the UK and Republic of Ireland. High profile customers include celebrity chefs such as Heston Blumenthal and Marcus Wareing.

The small company was formed in 2005 and currently produces and packs hundreds of rolls of butter by traditional techniques every day.

Allison Abernethy, commenting on the short listing by the BBC, says; "Gaining this important recognition from listeners to the BBC Food Programme is another marvellous boost for the business and will help to highlight our butter and fudge particularly in Great Britain, now a key and fast developing market for us.

"What's immensely encouraging of course is the format of the competition which involves a high degree of listener engagement. It's really the people's competition."

The company, the only producer of hand churned butter in Ireland, currently supplies around 100 outlets in Northern Ireland including high-end restaurants and convenience stores.

The BBC Food & Farming Awards is a celebration of the most delicious and important things in food and drink. It's a real chance for the public to share the food stories that really matter to them.