Abernethy Butter strengthens position in Great Britain

Abernethy Butter, Northern Ireland's handcrafted creamy butter, has strengthened its presence in Britain with two recent deals.

Based at Dromara in county Down, Abernethy Butter is to supply its handmade butter to the historic Spa Hotel at Tunbridge Hotel, a major conference and wedding location in Kent, and Yummy Stilton, the shop at Cropwell Bishop in Nottinghamshire, home of the multi-award winning Stilton blue cheese.

Allison Abernethy, who runs the award winning butter business with husband Will, the highly skilled butter maker, says: "These are very important business developments in a market which is our priority. Both are excellent customers which we look forward to working as closely as possible with.

"They are a marvellous endorsement by quality conscious businesses following the very encouraging comments about our butter made recently by international chef Nigella Lawson.

"Our strategic focus is on strengthening out footprint in Britain, our most important market outside Northern Ireland and one we believe offers immense potential for the premium quality products with heritage, provenance and outstanding taste that we are producing and will continue to be our focus," Mrs Abernethy adds.

The Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells is four-star with a history stretching back to the 18th century when it was developed as a manor house. As well as being one of Britain's most popular and successful artisan producers of blue cheese, Yummy Stilton has a popular shop and café that attracts many thousands of visitors from the British Isles and from further afield every year.

Abernethy Butter has won plaudits from many of the UK's most respected chefs and retailers. As well as Nigella Lawson, the butter is now being used by Michelin star chefs Heston Blumenthal, Marcus Wareing and Andy McFadden.

In addition, the premium butter uses fresh milk from a grass-fed dairy herd and has won a string of UK Great Taste Awards. It is the preferred butter of 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.

Abernethy Butter 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 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.