April 2009 

 Blagdon Butchers Best in Europe

Blagdon Farm Shop, a member of FARMA North East (the Farmers’ Retail and Markets Association), has won two gold and two silver awards at the international Eurobeef Trade Competition. The event, held at the Meat & Fresh Expo in Kortrijk, is Belgium's leading biennial trade fair for butchers and specialist food producers. This win means that Blagdon's meat is now regarded as some of the finest in Europe.

The awards are organised by Belgium's National Association of Butchers, Charcutiers and Traiteurs, in a country where good food is an essential part of the national culture. Originally the awards were set up to acknowledge the quality and craftsmanship of their Butchers and were subsequently opened to international entries in 2007.

Commenting on their win, Simon Osborne, Butchery Manager at Blagdon said, "We are delighted that the quality of our meat has been recognised at this international level. Competition was strong and we were judged on a range of criteria including quality, innovation, taste and flavour as well as presentation and value for money. It shows that the meat we produce in the North East is some of the best in Europe."
Blagdon received Gold Awards for its Blagdon Free Range Dry Cured Back Bacon, a traditional bacon which is hand cured at the farm shop and its Blagdon Porterhouse Burger, a matured beef pattie stuffed with stilton and a lime and chilli jam. Blagdon's own Breakfast Sausage, made with free range pork and a hint of clove, picked up a Silver award along with the Blagdon Farmhouse Burger, a free range pork burger with caramelised onion and bramley apple.

As a member of FARMA North East, Blagdon Farm Shop is committed to providing its customers with fresh local food, grown and produced to the highest standards. The extensive butcher’s section stocks rare breed meats from its Home Farm
including free range pork, poultry, cooked ham and hand made sausage as well as meat from other Northumbrian farms. Manager, Jo Celerier says "Blagdon works closely with its farmers to produce meat that is excellent in both quality and taste. We believe passionately in rearing animals naturally, to provide our customers with premium quality traceable meat."

The awards are an international recognition to the care and attention to detail that goes into producing the meat at Blagdon. The butchery team which consists of master butcher Simon Osborne, two butchers and two apprentices are always happy to talk to customers and explain where their meat has come from and how it is reared as well as sharing a few cooking tips and recipes ideas.

Anyone interested in finding out more about Blagdon Farm Shop and its butchery can call the shop on Tel. 01670 789 924 or visit the website www.theblagdonfarmshop.co.uk