| 2006 Northern Ireland winners |
|
|
|
Lyall Plant, Northern Ireland Director of Countryside Alliance Ireland, is delighted to announce the winners of the Best Rural Retailer competition in Northern Ireland: Best Diversification: Janise & Alan Bailey This small business diversified from a small holding family farm in Co Down. They have always reared pigs and decided to concentrate on rare breeds and establish a rural enterprise from their home farm in Killyleagh Co Down. They started a farm Bed and Breakfast to supplement their income while waiting for the pig herd to grow to the level where they could start selling pork and bacon and supplying it on a continuous basis. The enterprise has taken at least two years to establish from the Farm and a further 5 years to being able to fund and open the shop. A full butchery facility is available at the shop and full use is made of it. As well as local fruit and vegetables Pheasant Hill sell all their own pork products. They dry cure all their bacon and prepare all products for sale. They have also purchased a new smoker to enable them to do smoked ham products in the near future. This is an excellent and well run operation. They were very helpful which was demonstrated by a customer arriving who had an allergy problem with wheat. They provided advice and were able to supply him with sausages which had been used with rice flower in the rusk instead of wheat flower. The phone did not stop during the judges' visit, with orders for turkeys and hams for Christmas. Best Local Food Retailer: McAtamney Butchers McAtamney's has seven branches in rural villages and provincial rural towns (Kilrea, Garvagh, Maghera, Magherafelt, Ballymoney, Ballymena, Coleraine) employing around 50 employees from rural communities. All produce stocked by McAtamney’s is guaranteed local as it is acquired from only those producers participating in the Northern Ireland Farm Assurance Scheme. McAtamney’s support local family run businesses wherever possible. All staff are from the local community and trained to a high level. McAtamney’s is fully committed to local produce and buys only produce that can be proven to be locally sourced. Preference is also given to local, family run suppliers. There are a number of special promotions and buy local sign in McAtamney’s Butchers. There are signs advising staff that all products are made from local produce under the NI Farm Assurance Scheme and currently a special promotion to eat local pork. McAtamney’s also stock local game during the season. McAtamney’s employs 50 people in the local community. They are also generous sponsors of local football teams, the Women’s Institute and many other fundraisers. Currently McAtamney’s are holding an ‘in shop’ Christmas collection for the charity St. Vincent De Paul. McAtamney’s believe their success as a retailer is largely due to strong support from within local rural communities. The fact that they only support local producers and support many local community initiatives generates a strong sense of community support for their business. The current proprietor, Mark McAtamney is the fourth generation of his family to run this business. McAtamney’s’ Butchers was founded in 1933 by Mark’s great grandfather. The judges were given a very warm welcome by a very knowledgeable proprietor and sthe taff at a very busy rural retailer. Best Traditional business: Muldrews Butchers John has inherited his butchery skills from his father and is passing them on to his young employees. His beef is purchased as traditional whole sides and is hung for a minimum of 3 to 4 weeks prior to preparation for sale. The family business was established in 1930 and has been operating in Markethill since that time. The business has been passed down from father to son and continues to operate to a high standard Muldrews Butchers offer for sale a wide range of beef and pork products. Their beef is renowned for its tenderness and flavour because it is hung in the traditional method. They cure their own bacon and offer excellent quality pork and bacon products to the community. Fresh vegetables are also available and compliment the range of meat. Muldrews only use local suppliers for their meat and vegetables and have done so since the business was established in 1930. There meat is sourced from Dunbane meats who only use the best Northern Ireland beef. Their pork is bought from Eric Johnston who is a local supplier and their poultry is purchased from Eric Thompson who is also a local supplier in the area. Their vegetables are sourced from numerous small local suppliers and are of the highest quality and taste Muldrews butchers support activities in the local community with the business sponsoring events and charities within the local area. They also support the local hounds by supplying them with scraps and meat for free. They also are available to selected shoots for assisting in processing their venison. Their emphasis on supplying only local produce and quality meat products has enabled them to survive in a business that is constantly under pressure from the main supermarket chains. They continued to operate and support the local farming community during the outbreak of foot and mouth and have been rewarded by their support since. This is a well run rural enterprise. It is the hub of Markethill and has thrived since its opening in 1930. They are passionate regarding their quality of their beef and pork and especially proud of their bacon products which they cure themselves.
|
