A family run farm business which produces slowly grown turkeys has been recognised in three categories at the Grampian Food Forum Innovation Awards 2016.
Barra Bronzes was named winner in the ‘Judge’s Choice’ category, runner-up for ‘Best New Retail Product (businesses with up to 25 employees),’ and was named as highly commended in the ‘Best Young Business’ category.
The judges were particularly impressed with founder Craig Michie and his passion for the product and business.
They loved the great story of “rearing through to retail,” the fact Barra Bronzes produces “something quite special and unique,” and praised the recipient as “driven and ambitious.”
Founder Craig Michie, based at Lochend of Barra, Inverurie, left a job as a town planner in 2009 and travelled around South America where he met his Columbian wife Maria.
The couple returned to Scotland and the century old family farm to create Barra Bronzes.
He said: “To gain the approval of the independent panel of judges was stunning. I am so pleased the way we produce our high quality birds is being recognised by a wider audience.
“I believe in developing our turkeys in the right way, slowly grown so they reach maturation at just the right time for the table.
“There was a deficit in high quality poultry and it was our aspiration to fill that gap in the market.
“We’ve remained true to traditional methods of production and plan to boost our numbers this year.”
The turkeys are free to roam around the farm, foraging for brassicas, grasses and fruits.
Since last year they have been under the protection of two alpacas, a proven South American solution to ward off predators such as foxes.
The business reported a 60 per cent increase in farm gate sales in the lead up to Christmas 2015.
