The Royal Welsh Show’s food hall and trade lounge was a vibrant hub of food and drink acivity at this year's Royal Welsh Show with producers building on a successful period of growth for the industry.
Research shows activity over the last two years in the dedicated trade and business area, which is organised by Food & Drink Wales, has directly resulted in producer sales totalling over £2 million. This year’s event saw 250 companies showcasing their products to over 200 major retailers, wholesalers, exporters and other buyers.
Many producers added to the momentum gained from the Blas Cymru / Taste Wales event held in the spring. Initial figures show the first ever international trade event held in the country was a huge success, with almost £3.5 million of confirmed sales resulting in even more Welsh produce being available across the globe, including Denmark, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.
One of the industry buyers seeking tasty Welsh produce at the Royal Welsh was Simon Dryell, Head of Ranging at the Co-op, who said,
“Attending the Royal Welsh business lounge is always a great opportunity to network and develop partnerships with producers, and I’m very much looking forward to the opportunities this year’s showcase will bring.”
Commenting on the ongoing work under the Food & Drink Wales banner in driving growth in the industry, Lesley Griffiths AM, the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, said:
“Our showcase during Royal Welsh Week plays a crucial part within our wider trade development work. We’re keen to build on the success of Blas Cymru / Taste Wales and I’m sure buyers and industry figures will continue to be impressed with the produce we have on offer, as we continue our drive to grow the industry 30% by 2020.”