Northern Irish food firms in running for special Golden Fork Award

Northern Ireland's Abernethy Butter and Hannan Meats are shortlisted among 24 smaller companies from across the UK and Republic of Ireland in the running for a major award from a leading food magazine.

They are both in the running for a Golden Fork Award presented annually by Feel Good Food magazine in association with the UK Great Taste Awards. Feel Good Food is part of Woman & Home magazine.

Readers of the popular magazine, which is edited by influential food writer Jane Curran, have an opportunity to select the Golden Fork winner, in partnership with the Great Taste Awards.

Jane Curran says: "In each issue of Woman & Home's Feel Good Food, we celebrate the great producers who go that extra mile to give us wonderful food and drink."

Hannan Meats, based in Moira, county Down, is among the most successful meat processing businesses in Northern Ireland. The company, headed by Peter Hannan, has twice won the Supreme Champion title in the Great Taste Awards.

Hannan Meats is also the most successful ever in terms of gold awards for its meat and bacon products. The business dry ages meats in the world's largest Himalayan Salt Chamber.

Abernethy Butter, based on a farm at Dromara in county Down, is another award winning enterprise. The company, run by husband and wife team Will and Allison Abernethy, hand crafts and hand rolls creamy butter. It has developed a three-strong range - original, smoked and seaweed - of butters.

The small company supplies leading restaurateurs including Heston Blumenthal and Marcus Wareing.