Established in August 2011 Carnbrooke is owned by husband-and-wife team Jason & Jacqueline Hamilton. With a butchery background and 20 years in the industry Jason took a leap of faith to go out on his own and it quickly went from strength to strength starting off with four staff and a small factory in Dromara, Co Down. Supplying hotels and restaurants offering quality, locally sourced beef, pork, and lamb products they quickly built the customer base to include well renowned and prestigious Hastings Hotel Group, Deanes, Muddlers Club and OX. We soon became well known in our own right and opened a small retail butchery shop in Dromara located close to our factory.
Our driving force behind our growth and success is our passion in sourcing the best local produce. We have direct contact with the farmers and the animals are reared to our own specific standard to ensure consistency. We believe in supporting local and recognise the quality that exists on our doorstep. Over the last 10 years that number has grown to approx. 300 restaurants and hotels, as well as contracts with Ulster Rugby and others. Our growth made us think big. We required a site that could house our production and kitchen facility as well as an extensive retail shop with ample on-site car parking. We have ended up with much more thanks to the support we have received. We have grown to a team of almost 70, doubling in size since our move to Lisburn. We have a great team of talent and look forward to what the future has in store for us.
In 2020 days prior to the first lockdown we opened a 2500 square foot Butchery & Food Hall. We truly didn’t know what to expect. Immediately the local community supported our vision and offering. We began to have customers visiting from far and wide. Our Food Hall has provided us an outlet to showcase our capabilities. Customers shop with us knowing they receive quality, provenance and excellent service. We receive such positive feedback from our customers. We have a Himalayan Salt ageing chamber that can be viewed in the food hall as well as a 25m2 chamber in the factory. We have a vast range of cooked and raw products made on site by our talented team of butchers, chefs and production operatives. The in-house team are constantly adding to their offering devising new recipes and meals-to go that really are excellent, there is something for everyone. Alongside our Carnbrooke range we love to support small, local, artisan suppliers with over 40 supplier relationships and growing.
We are keen to keep growing in all areas of our business. Since the reopening of hospitality and indoor dining we continue to supply our existing partner base. Now more than ever we are dealing with many new hotels and restaurants that understand Carnbrooke does not compromise on quality and provenance – they recognise us for excellence, innovation and our commitment to quality in sourcing local ingredients and products. Our Food Hall continues to thrive along with our offering. We have some exciting plans for Carnbrooke in the not-too-distant future. We have a great team of talented people working alongside us with a passion for food and growing the business. We are excited for our future and looking forward to the next 10 years.
