2024 News and events

One of Wales' premier wine producers, White Castle Vineyard, has unveiled a new chapter in its history. For the first time the vineyard has harvested and processed its grapes onsite in a newly established winery using state-of-the-art equipment, paving the way for a future of increased wine production within Wales. The exciting development is the culmination of years of planning and investment in the latest technology, aimed at improving both the quality and quantity of...

A Cwmbran Artisan Patisserie aims to celebrate its 20th birthday by implementing a range of sustainable baking practices on their journey to a low-carbon future. Sustainability is a top priority of Sian and Ian Hindle who founded La Creme Patisserie in 2005. Now, with the duo’s children holding key positions within the company, the family business has committed to taking steps to reduce their company’s carbon emissions, with the aim to become a net zero...

The Wales Food and Drink Awards are back for 2025 and are now open for entries and nominations. Each year these national awards recognise and honour the outstanding contributions and achievements within the Welsh Food and Drink industry. As we enter our fourth year, we look forward to once again championing the success of Welsh food and drink producers, big and small from every corner of Wales. The awards reflect the diversity of this exciting...

Over 165 primary schools across Wales have been enjoying a new School Activity Ideas Pack created by the Welsh Government funded programme; Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru | Food & Drink Skills Wales. The pack, which encourages pupils to consider environmental factors affecting our food chains, was launched as part of Wales Climate Week (November 11 - 15). This year’s Wales Climate Week focused on the theme of “adaptation” in the context of climate change...

Food and drink companies from across Wales are being invited by the Welsh Government to register their interest for next year’s Blas Cymru / Taste Wales 2025 brokerage “meet the buyer” event, which will be held at the ICC Wales in Newport. First launched in 2017 and held on a bi-annual basis since, it has become a signature event for the food and drink industry, bringing together producers, suppliers, buyers, and food industry professionals from...

The Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru | Food & Drink Skills Wales programme, recently called upon ambassadors of the food and drink industry to form a specific Expert Group to identify skills gaps and opportunities within the industry. The main aim of the Expert Group was to identify the critical skills gaps that exist within the food and drink manufacturing industry in Wales. This would draw upon the group’s unrivalled knowledge to understand and summarise...

A growing independent hospitality business, based in south east Wales, is reaping the rewards after successfully introducing a range of Welsh food and drink to its menus for the first time. Cardiff-based Croeso Pubs operates 8 businesses within the city and the surrounding areas. These are the Philharmonic, The Dock, Retro, Brewhouse, The Blue Bell, Daffodil, The Discovery and the Bear’s Head. Having decided to place a greater emphasis on Welsh produce at their establishments...

A group of Welsh whisky producers have come together to launch a new campaign which encourages restaurants in Wales to feature more GI (Geographical Indication) protected products. The five Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI producers - Penderyn, Aber Falls, Dà Mhìle, In the Welsh Wind and Coles collectively hold UK GI status, which recognises them nationally and internationally as producing a quality product with a distinctive style. The new campaign is backed by Welsh Government...

2 day course to be held at: Hensol Castle Distillery - 13th and 14th November 2024 In The Welsh Wind Distillery - 27th and 28th November 2024 Register HERE Delivered by The Mixing Class; the Food & Drink Skills Wales programme is hosting WSET Level 2 Spirits Training in collaboration with the Food & Drink Wales Drinks Cluster. Level 2 Spirits is a two-day course that looks closely at production methods of key spirit categories...

When: Thursday 24 October 2024 Where: Venue Cymru, Llandudno What: Organised by Food & Drink Wales, Blas Cymru / Taste Wales Conference, Exhibition & Networking event 2024 Next week will see the highly anticipated inaugural Blas Cymru / Taste Wales conference held at Venue Cymru, Llandudno. Organised by Welsh Government’s Food & Drink Wales division, the conference theme is ‘Bridges to Success’ and will feature a dynamic mix of practical seminars, industry workshops, expert panels...