2023 News and events

Food and drink manufacturers and processing businesses in Wales can gain skills and knowledge on how to build practical plans in response to climate change and challenging Net Zero targets through a series of workshops held in January 2024. Managed by Food & Drink Skills Wales, a programme funded by Welsh Government and committed to working with the food and drink industry to develop a skilled and capable workforce; the free, tutor-led online training courses...

Children in schools across Wales have been enjoying a new School Activity Ideas Pack created by the newly formed Food & Drink Skills Wales project. The pack, which encourages pupils to examine environmental factors affecting our food chains, was launched as part of Wales Climate Week (December 4-8). This year’s Wales Climate Week focused on the theme of “fairness” in the context of climate change, examining its disproportionate effect on people and places. It has...

Traditionally, Christmas is a time when many employers in the food and drink industry take on temporary staff to help them with the busy festive period - and according to a new Wales-wide skills support programme, such opportunities can have longer-term benefits for all. Delivered by Menter a Busnes on behalf of the Welsh Government, Food & Drink Skills Wales works with the food and drink industry to develop a skilled and capable workforce to...

Welsh food and drink businesses are in Singapore to promote their first-class products. Organised by the Welsh Government, the Trade Development Visit to Singapore provides a platform to engage with potential partners, distributors, and buyers in the region. The visit aims to highlight Wales’ diverse range of high-quality products, including dairy, bakery and alcohol products. Importing about 90% of its food and drinks consumption, Singapore is a country with great potential for Welsh food and...

The Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company and Velfrey Vineyard are celebrating after joining a list of Welsh producers in seeing their products awarded protected status. Velfrey Vineyard has been awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) for its Velfrey NV Traditional Method Sparkling Brut and ‘Rhosyn’ 2021 Traditional Method Vintage Sparkling Brut Rosé wines. Based at The Old Point House in East Angle Bay, the Pembrokeshire Beach Food company has been given Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status...

Food professionals from across the globe attend two-day food and drink trade extravaganza at the ICCW, Newport New products are being launched by leading Welsh producers, in what is expected to result in millions of pounds of sales Also being launched this year are products associated with Welsh celebrities, such as Katherine Jenkins, Alun Wyn Jones, Mike Phillips, James Hook, Shane Williams, Lee Byrne and Richard Hibbard More than 200 new food and drink products...

A group of ‘Rising Stars’ from the Welsh food and drink industry put their products in the limelight at Wales’ premier food and drink event - BlasCymru/TasteWales 2023. Held at the International Convention Centre Wales at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport ( October 25-26 th 2023), BlasCymru/TasteWales brought together food and drink industry buyers, suppliers, and businesses eager to network and discover new products. The flagship Welsh Government event featured 120 Welsh food and...

Welsh producers enjoyed success at the prestigious BBC Food and Farming Awards ceremony, hosted at the International Convention Centre in Newport on 25th October 2023. The winners included North Wales-based cheese and yogurt producer, Cosyn Cymru, who took the top prize of the evening, winning the UK’s ‘Best Food Producer’ award. The other Welsh winners were Cardiff’s Maasi’s café, which was named the UK’s ‘Best Streetfood, Takeaway or Small Eatery’. Meanwhile, the Vale of Glamorgan’s...

With less than two weeks until the return of Wales’ largest international food and drink trade event, BlasCymru/TasteWales, a host of leading Welsh organisations have been unveiled as event sponsors for the flagship event. Held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Wales, Newport, on 25-26 October, it will be the fourth trade show organised under the Welsh Government’s Food and Drink Wales banner. With the event drawing closer, industry professionals are being urged to make...

Aber Falls Distillery in North Wales has joined the list of Welsh producers awarded UK protected status for their Single Malt Welsh Whisky. Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths visited the company in Abergwyngregyn on Thursday to congratulate the team on gaining the prestigious status. Single Malt Welsh Whisky is one of Wales’ most popular spirits and secured PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) UK GI status in July. The UK GI scheme was established in 2021, following...