Top Award for Northern Irish Meat Entrepreneur

Peter Hannan, founder and managing director of Hannan Meats, the UK Supreme Champion in the recent Great Taste Awards, has been named Northern Ireland Entrepreneur of the Year in the prestigious Aer Lingus Viscount Awards for business achievement.

Hannan won the award as: "a passionate foodie who has brought success to his business through his commitment, innovation, energy and vision".

He formed Hannan Meats more than 20 years ago and has won international acclaim for his commitment to innovation in beef and bacon. He was the first to set up a unique Himalayan Salt Chamber for ageing beef and has since expanded this to be the world's biggest.

In addition to the Supreme Champion Award in the Great Taste Awards 2012/13, he gained 26 gold stars for a broad range of quality meat products, a UK record.

The awards, now in their fifth year, were held in the Royal Automobile Club and awarded those companies who have best demonstrated a positive impact on the Northern Ireland economy and a strong collaboration between Northern Ireland and Britain.

The seven-strong judging panel deliberated over 100 of Northern Ireland's most entrepreneurial and innovative companies before deciding on the eventual winners.

The panel comprised Valerie Abbott, commercial manager of Aer Lingus in Northern Ireland; Symon Ross, editor of Ulster Business magazine; Tracy Meharg, managing director of the Innovation and Capability Group at Invest NI; Roseann Kelly, chief executive of Women in Business NI; Adrienne McGill, business editor of the News Letter; Gary McDonald, business editor of the Irish News; and Alan Taylor, managing partner at Arthur Cox.

Valerie Abbott, Aer Lingus Northern Ireland, said: "We were hugely impressed again by the calibre of this year's entrants and while only seven companies may be crowned Aer Lingus Viscount Award winners, all are a reminder of the immense talent creating prosperity across Northern Ireland and, indeed, across the world.

"As an airline we are proud to connect businesses with opportunities internationally every day via our Belfast City to Heathrow and Gatwick routes, and are pleased to see so many of these businesses pursuing global growth opportunities with a forward-thinking approach.

"As these winners attest, Northern Ireland has a great deal to be confident about."