Harrods Lists Award Winning Vinegars From Northern Ireland’s Burren Balsamics
Burren Balsamics, the multi-award winning producer of exceptional infused balsamic vinegars in Northern Ireland, has won its first business with the prestigious Food Halls in Harrods, the iconic department store in London.
Based at Richhill in County Armagh, Burren Balsamics has just supplied a range of nine products including its recently launched Irish Peat Smoked and Irish Heritage Apple White Balsamic to the imposing store in London’s upmarket Knightsbridge.
The important order for the small business, which has won a string of UK Great Taste and Blas na hÉireann awards for its unique vinegars, also includes Balsamic Salt. The Irish Peat Smoked was recently awarded Best New Product at the Great British Food Awards.
The products have been created by Susie Hamilton Stubber, who founded the innovation-led enterprise in February 2014, and business partner Bob McDonald.
Mrs Hamilton Stubber, commenting on the deal with Harrods, regarded as the world’s leading luxury store, says: “We are very excited to be supplying such a significant and influential retailer with so many of our products. The listing is a tremendous boost for us especially at this very challenging time for businesses everywhere.
“This is an immensely important breakthrough for us with what is probably the world’s best known store with superb food halls which attracts customers from most parts of London, other regions of Britain and from across the world,” adds Susie
The contract with Harrods, Susie continues, is the outcome of contact building with the food hall’s buying team over three years. “We first met a senior buyer from Harrods at the Blasna Éireann Irish National Food Awards in Dingle, county Kerry in 2017.
“We followed up by supplying a range of products and generally keeping in contact which in turn has led to the purchase order arriving on our desk,” Susie explains.
The first consignment of balsamic vinegars and salt was shipped to Harrods last week and is already on the shelves.
Susie originally developed the unique and distinctive vinegars using natural ingredients including fruits sourced from growers in Armagh to enable professional chefs and home cooks to add deliciously different flavours to their dishes.
The natural fruits include Armagh Bramley apples, which have EU PGI protection from orchards in the area, as well as quality fruits from local farmers such as blackcurrants, strawberries and blueberries.
Burren Balsamics has invested much time and resources to enable the company to trade in Britain. As a result, it already supplies many delis and chefs in this most important market for Northern Ireland food and drink.
