New hickory smoked burgers from Buchanan Foods

Buchanan Foods in Northern Ireland has developed a new beef brisket burger that's slowly smoked over hickory chips.

The new burger is the latest innovative meat product from the family farm business which is based at Upperlands in county Derry. The small business, owned by farmer Jonathan Buchanan, won UK Great Taste Awards last month for its turkey and bacon products.

The company has also successfully launched a unique back bacon smoked over turf as well as smoked turkey breast and turkey aged in the farm's Himalayan salt chamber.

The new hickory smoked beef brisket burgers are available in packs of four 4oz burgers at £4.40. The burgers are developed from locally sourced beef, then rubbed in sea salt before being smoked slowly over hickory chips in the company's own smoker.

Jonathan Buchanan, commenting on the new hickory burger, says: "Our business focus is on using our experience with a range of meats to create innovative products as it's the only way a small business can compete.

"We've already added value to our turkey, bacon and lamb meats to differentiate them in the marketplace.

"The new hickory burgers are ideal in particular for barbecues because of their distinctive hickory flavour," he adds. "We've been investing a lot of time in developing our expertise and knowledge in dry curing, ageing and smoking of meat from our own turkeys and sheep and lambs.

"We source beef and pork from local suppliers, everything is totally traceable. This has given us an extensive portfolio of unique meats, especially for sausages and burgers," he adds.

His portfolio also includes the YoYo burger produced from lamb and a blend of Greek spices developed by Mr Buchanan.

The company also runs a small farmshop stocking its own meats and other products from local artisans.