Erne Larder wins new business with McAtamney’s
Erne Larder Preserves, the Enniskillen-based producer of artisan ketchup, jams and sauces, has won significant business with McAtamney’s of Garvagh, one of Northern Ireland’s most successful butchery and deli businesses.
Erne Larder, founded and owned by chef Declan O’Donoghue, is supplying a range A Food NI member of handmade products he has developed using her own recipes, to the 12 shops in McAtamney’s network in counties Antrim and Londonderry.
The products listed by McAtamney’s are Irish Bacon Ketchup, Irish Bacon Jam and Irish Whiskey Jam. The ketchup and jam feature Irish Black Bacon developed and produced by Pat O’Doherty of O’Doherty’s Fine Meats, also based in Enniskillen and a winner of several major awards for outstanding taste.
Declan, commenting on the latest contract for his ketchup and preserves, says: “I am thrilled to be listed in McAtamney stores because it’s a marvellous boost for my small business. It gives great visibility and the opportunity to reach a very wide base of shoppers with my original products.” He has also supplied Lidl stores in Ireland.
He is also now supplying products to the impressive The Dairy café, butchery and farm shop at Gleno, near Larne
Father of two, Declan (36) decided to step back from the often gruelling work as a head chef to set up his own food enterprise, Erne Larder Preserves in 2016. The ketchup and bacon jam are products unique to Erne Larder.
“My objective was to produce unique products using new generation and traditional flavours for sale initially at markets in Fermanagh and further afield,” he explains. He launched the initial range of products at markets across the country.
Feedback from shoppers at the markets was positive and encouraged him to press ahead with his plans.
As well as the bacon jam and ketchup, Declan has also created other jams and sauces including a lemon curd based on a recipe from his grandmother and a fiery jalapeño sauce.
McAtamney’s has a long and successful history in the butchery business dating back to 1933 when the first shop was established in Kilrea.
A family run business, McAtamney’s is headquartered in Garvagh and has grown one shop at a time taking pride in growing the business at a pace that never compromises on quality or service. There are now 12 shops across Northern Ireland employing over 100 fully trained master butchers.
