Sales of Abernethy Butter boosted by top TV chef
On line sales of Northern Ireland's Abernethy Butter soared following support for the company's hand crafted products from celebrity chef Nigella Lawson.
Based at Dromara in county Down, Abernethy Butter is an award winning producer of a range of handmade butters from locally sourced creamery milk.
Allison Abernethy, who runs the small business with husband Will, who makes and rolls the butter by hand, says: "Nigella recently recommended our butter as 'glorious' for a roast dinner.
"As a result of this tremendous mention by such a respected chef, interest in our butter sky rocketed and led to a significant increase in sales to Britain through our website. We are really delighted that Nigella loves our butter and is telling all her followers on social media about it," she adds.
Nigella Lawson, who subsequently tweeted that "Abernethy Butter is everything", is the most recent celebrity chef to express support for the Northern Ireland company's exceptional butter. Others include Michelin star chefs Heston Blumenthal, Marcus Wareing and Andy McFadden.
The butter, which has won a series of UK Great Taste Awards, is widely used in high-end restaurants and hotels in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and has attracted interest from further afield. It was listed by the UK Fine Foods among the Top 50 Foods in 2016.
The company also supplies high profile retailers such as Fortnum and Mason, Harrods, Selfridges and Fenwicks.
The husband and wife team formed Abernethy Butter in 2005 to help preserve traditional butter making skills.
Initially going to local agricultural and vintage shows to demonstrate how cream is churned and turned into butter, they soon realised there was a demand for their product.
They produce traditional grass fed butter that's churned, rolled and packed by hand. The range of butters comprises original, smoked and seaweed and sea salt varieties. In addition, the company produces a dairy fudge which has also won a UK Great Taste Award.