ward winning Northern Irish catering butchery business, has been commended in The Farm Shop & Deli Awards 2014.The company, which also operates The Meat Merchant farm shop and deli at its processing operation in Moira, county Down, was commended in the ‘Butcher of the Year category.
The Farm Shop & Deli Awards, in partnership with Olives Et Al, recognise the very best standards in speciality retail and to celebrate the highest levels of service, product knowledge, initiative, innovation and community involvement.
The Awards celebrate the unsung heroes of the high street and speciality retail scene with categories ranging from butchers, bakers, farm shops and delis through to garden centres, food halls and online businesses. Hannan Meats is the only Northern Irish company recognised in this year’s awards.
Judge Neil Nugent, executive chef and head of product development at Morrison’s, says “The awards are a brilliant opportunity for the UK’s small independent businesses to get recognition nationally and enable them to become a destination.”
Peter Hannan, managing director of Hannan Meats, the business he founded in 1991, says: “This is another very encouraging accolade for the company and recognises our achievements in providing premium quality meat to high-end retailers and foodservice operators in Britain and further afield.”
The Farm Shop & Deli Awards received a record number of entrants from nearly 300 businesses across the UK, along with thousands of public votes from consumers for their favourite speciality retailers.
The 12 category winners and 25 commended were chosen following a day of intensive judging by leading speciality retailers and key industry figures along with mystery visits conducted throughout December by Nigel Barden, chair of Judges.
Nigel Barden adds “It's gratifying to know that there are so many excellent purveyors of food & drink in Britain and during the mystery visits I have been delighted, moved and inspired by the people I've met.
“They care passionately about their vocational career paths. It's heartening to hear of apprenticeships being offered in butchers, bakers, fishmongers and greengrocers and inspiring to find how farm shops, food halls and delicatessens are so much at the heart of their communities.”
