Apr 22, 2020

Glenarm Redspark Lamb, a new company and rebranding of slow reared and sustainable lambs from one of the oldest family farms on the hills of the Antrim coast overlooking the Irish Sea, is aiming to grow sales in both foodservice and retail. Lidl Ireland has already recognised the potential of the farm’s lamb by including the original products on its Kickstarter scheme for smaller businesses in Ireland. In addition to a range of premium cuts for retail, the company has already introduced meat boxes for online sales and plans to introduce packaged convenience meals such lamb tagine, curry, stew and shepherd’s pie under the new Redspark branding. “Our aim is to create a distinctive brand that’s supported by structured and targeted marketing initiatives for our lamb from the hills of North Antrim,” explained Eamonn Matthews, who heads up the lamb rearing and processing business of the 180-acrefarm and its 200-strong flock of Black Face and Dorset sheep. Brother Ronan looks after the farm’s pedigree Limousin beef herd. “We’ve been encouraged by feedback from local chefs who used our cuts on menus before the lockdown,” said Eamonn. “The flavour of many varieties of sweet grasses and heather, combined with the fresh and clean sea air makes Redspark lamb an ideal ingredient for a new generation of food lovers seeking premium meat that’s reared sustainably with heritage, complete traceability and provenance,” he said. “Sustainability is not a new thing for us. It has always been our way of life that underpins our approach to farming. We only farm low intensive breeds of sheep that are suited to our hilly terrain and require minimal intervention. “Our flock of Blackface and Dorset sheep instinctively know how to forage this unique landscape that’s been grazed for hundreds of years, so the ground doesn’t require fertilisers.” The company was silver winners in the UK Sheep Innovator of the year Farmers Guardian awards in 2019. The new branding and products are underpinned by the farming heritage of Matthews family around the Drumnagreagh townland, near Glenarm, in county Antrim, since 1688. The Redspark identity comes from the times when Eamonn and his siblings played in a field that is known as Reid’s Park. “As young children, we couldn’t pronounce Reid’s Park and instead called it Redspark,” he explained.