Irish Black Butter in Northern Ireland EUROSPAR stores

Multi-award winning Irish Black Butter has won business with one of Ireland’s retailers for its original savoury spread.

The company, which gained three stars in last year’s UK Great Taste Awards for its unique spread, is now supplying the product to EUROSPAR stores owned by Henderson Retail across Northern Ireland.

Export business in the US and key EU market however has stalled because of the global coronavirus outbreak.

Irish Black Butter founder and managing director Alastair Bell says the deal to supply the artisan product to Henderson’s was initiated at last year’s Royal Ulster Agricultural Show at Balmoral Park. Irish Black Butter was part of the vast Food NI Food Pavilion at the show, the biggest show of its type on the island of Ireland.

Mr Bell explains: “I had the opportunity to meet members of the Henderson Retail team at Balmoral and this initial approach led to further discussions leading eventually to what is an immensely important contract to supply my Irish Black Butter spread in two jar sizes. It’s a significant deal for the spread which strengthens substantially our presence in the local marketplace.

“I am delighted to be part of Henderson’s impressive commitment to assist the growth of smaller enterprises throughout Northern Ireland. The network of high quality EUROSPAR stores provide a tremendous selling platform for artisan and smaller food and drink companies in particular,” he adds.

Irish Black Butter had also been lining up new sales in Britain as well as first export business in the US and parts of Europe, which have been held up because of the Covid-19 virus.

“I had some good business in Britain as a result of taking part in the recent Fine Food North show in Harrogate but this is on hold for the moment. I had also been working hard to finalise first sales in the US which has also now been deferred. I’ll be following these up when the virus is no longer a threat,” he says.

Mr Bell established his small company in 2017 to develop a unique savoury/sweet spread from local ingredients such as Armagh Bramley apples.