01 Aug 2012
Browns Food Group has been presented with a top award in a national catering competition, it has been announced today.
The Kirkconnel, Dumfriesshire based company, which operates from seven state-of-the-art facilities across the UK, has been given a gold award for its boneless pork ribs in Best Innovative Pork Product category in the BPEX Food Service Pork Product of the Year Competition 2012.
The spicy boneless pork ribs are from its Belchers "Take me Away" range which are a range of premium frozen, pre-cooked, microwavable foods for individuals who like to eat at home with friends and family.
The Boneless Ribs are prepared from pork belly, hand selected by our own in house butchers, ensuring continuity of a premium standard. They are diced and marinated in our own seasoning of sea salt & chilli before being slow cooked, in house, in our stein ovens. The boneless pork ribs are made at Brown's facility in Prestwick, Ayrshire.
The product, which has been a huge success, is available in major retail stores, supermarkets and the manufacturing and food service markets throughout the UK. They are also distributed through Fife Creamery and IM foods to smaller independent retailers.
Howard Crook, Managing Director at Browns Food Group, said: "We are extremely proud of our spicy boneless pork ribs and are delighted with the gold award. A gap in the UK protein snacking market was recognised for a premium range. Within this range Browns have created a unique product in this market with the Spicy Boneless Rib, offering a bone free, mess free and tasty pork snack.
"At Browns, we source only the best products straight from producers, allowing us to offer highly competitive prices to our customers."
BPEX foodservice trade manager, Tony Goodger, said: "We received a fantastic array of entries this year, demonstrating outstanding quality and innovation, which made judging very tough indeed. Gold awards are only given to products that satisfy the judge's strict criteria, which make these accolades important to not only the product manufacturers but also the establishments serving them and the customers who dine there.
"Pork and pork products continues to be a real favourite with the nation when dining out - appearing in two thirds of dishes - so to be selected as one of the top products in the catering industry is an incredible feat."
The competition recognises and rewards quality pork products and dishes that can be found on menus in pubs, restaurants, schools and hotels.
It is held in high esteem by the food industry and draws in products from chefs, butchers, bakers and manufacturers across the six categories: Fresh Pork Cut, Pork Ready Meal, Best Cold Eating Product, Pork and Pastry, Best Cured Product and Best Innovative Pork Product.
All products were judged to strict guidelines by industry experts and can potentially receive a gold, silver or bronze award according to their final score.
Notes to Editors
The 300g pack of boneless pork ribs retails at approximately £2 (recommended retail price, although retailers can decide what price they sell it for.)
Browns operates from seven state of the art facilities across the UK as follows:
- Kirkconnel, Dumfriesshire, headquarters
- Prestwick, Ayrshire
- Fenton Barnes, nr Edinburgh, East Lothian
- Wigan, Lancashire
- Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Central Scotland
- Tilbury, Essex
- Lochabriggs, Dumfries
One of the leading UK manufacturers Browns Food Group is a Scottish based company, established in 1885 originally a small family run butchers shop in Biggar. Today, Browns Food Group operates from five manufacturing sites, producing and supplying an extensive range in quality cooked meats, ranging from salmon, poultry, pre-sliced and whole joints of cooked meat to convenience foods and a variety of delicatessen items. The entire group boasts a product range which extends well into the thousands.. For more details, visit www.brownsfoodgroup.com.
The Awards were held at Butchers' Hall, London on Friday 15 June.
For media inquiries please contact:
Sheila Patel or Su Hesketh on telephone 0131 311 7050 or email Sheila@crimsonedge.co.uk or su@crimsonedge.co.uk
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