Irish Black Butter for Artisan Food Club in Britain

Listed on the Artisan Food Club site are two products from Irish Black Butter, which is based near Portrush in Co Antrim, including the original Irish Black Butter sweet/savoury spread and the company’s Peanut Spread with Irish Black Butter.

Both spreads are the brainchild of Alastair Bell, a Northern Ireland entrepreneur who won praise when he appeared on BBC2’s Dragons’ Den programme last year. He developed Irish Black Butter from Armagh Bramley apples, one of Northern Ireland’s EU protected name product.

Irish Black Butter also features treacle, spices and brandy among its ingredients and was created with assistance of leading chef Paul Clarke, the managing director of En-Place Foods and Craic Foods, both also based in Northern Ireland.

The business with Artisan Food Club for Irish Black Butter was assisted by Mr Clarke under the Craic Foods’ banner.

Mr Bell, commenting on the new business with Artisan Food Club, says: “This is an important development for us in Britain, a market we’ve been targeting for the past two years. We’ve been taking part in a programme of trade shows there to grow sales and to identify potential distributors.”

He formed Irish Black Butter in 2017 on the back of a successful career in business including event management.

Irish Black Butter, a Food NI member company, has earned a host of awards including the coveted three stars in last year’s UK Great Taste Awards and Chefs’ Larder Choice in Blas na hEireann, Irish National Food Awards.

The small company was commissioned to supply Irish Black Butter for 30 hampers for NATO summit leaders, including US President Donald Trump, in England in December.

The spread has also won acclaim from high profile chefs such as Northern Ireland Michelin star winner Michael Deane as well as James Martin. “Winning this acclaim from top chefs was a tremendous confidence booster,” he says.

Another business boost came last year from Sheridan’s in the shape of hugely significant listings by Avoca and Fallon & Byrne, both in Dublin and respected as two of the most prestigious food halls and restaurants there. Avoca has around 10 stores on the island of Ireland, including an immensely popular outlet in Belfast, while Fallon and Byrne has a network in greater Dublin.

As well as developing sales in Britain, Alastair is also now fielding inquiries from delis in the US, Germany and Middle East for the unique spread