Abernethy butter wins award at Royal Highland Show

Abernethy Butter, the Northern Irish processor of hand churned butter, gained a quality award at the recent Royal Highland Show at the first attempt.

The artisan butter and fudge business, based on the Abernethy family farm at Dromara in County Down, entered the prestigious agricultural show as part of a drive to raise its profile and thereby win its first sales in Britain.

Run by husband and wife team Will and Allison Abernethy, the company gained a bronze award in the dairy produce competition at the show in Edinburgh. The show, now in its 172ndyear, is one of the biggest events in the British agricultural calendar.

Abernethy Butter produces hand churned and rolled butter and fudge for customers in both parts of Ireland. The company was formed in 2005 and currently produced hundreds of rolls of butter by traditional techniques every day.

As well as the Royal Highland Show award, the artisan business gained a UK Great Taste Award from the Guild of Fine Food last year.

Allison Abernethy, commenting on the bronze award, says; 'Winning this important recognition at the first attempt is a marvellous boost for the business and will help to highlight our butter and fudge particularly in Scotland.

"We've had a number of inquiries and hope to turn these into firm sales."

Abernethy's hand churned butter was award 89 out of 100 for its creamy taste and rich butter by the judging panel. It came ahead of rivals from Scotland and England.

The company, the only producer of hand churned butter in Ireland, currently supplies over 60 outlets in Northern Ireland including high-end restaurants and convenience stores. It has also supplied its butter to a leading restaurant near Dublin in the Republic of Ireland.

The Royal Highland Show, from 21-24 June, attracted almost 200,000 visitors, the fifth highest attendance on record.