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Top UK Excellence Award for Finnebrogue Artisan in Downpatrick

Lynn’s Country Foods from Downpatrick, parent company of Finnebrogue Artisan, was named winner of the prestigious Large Meat, Poultry and Seafood category in the annual Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards, the UK’s most important event in food manufacturing.

Finnebrogue is best known for the hugely successful Naked Bacon products which are free from nitrites and other “nasties”. The bacon was the first to be completely free from nitrites, preservatives, E numbers and all allergens.

The awards recognise and celebrate the innovation underpinning the UK’s food and drink manufacturing industry. They are presented annually to companies demonstrating an innovative approach to food development, high-tech manufacturing and high-quality raw materials.

The Food Manufacture Excellence Awards provide a platform to showcase the hard work and the boundaries pushed forwards in the past 12 months.

They have been running for 19 years and have established a coveted mark of quality and excellence. They were presented at a gala dinner in front of hundreds of industry professionals.

Finnebrogue Artisan, a Food NI member company, operates from one of the most modern and technology advanced factory outside Downpatrick that includes a unique sensory centre within an extensive development kitchen.

Lynn’s Country Foods was launched by local businessman Denis Lynn, now chairman of Finnebrogue Artisan, in 1985. Among its first products was Oisin branded venison from his own estate at Finnebrogue.

The business subsequently diversified successfully into other meat products especially sausages and has since become a UK leader in pork products and a pioneer in the developing flexitarian market.

Denis Lynn has now created one of the most technologically advanced food processing plants of its type in these islands and probably in Europe.

After extensive research over many years, the company launched, in December 2017, its nitrites-free Naked brand of pork and ham products that now includes bacon, cooked ham and sausages which are stocked by most of the main supermarkets and leading independent retailers.