Welsh food and drink producers can look forward to a hive of activity during March, when they take centre stage at two international food and drink trade events.
First up is IFE 2017 (The International Food and Drink Exhibition), the UK’s biggest and most important food and drink trade show. Taking place 19-22 March at ExCeL, London, this event is the home of innovation, where over 1,350 exhibitors from 57 countries will be present, showcasing 1,000s of new and innovative food and drink products, allowing companies to engage with potential new customers and buyers from all over the country.
The Cymru/Wales stand, supported by the Welsh Government, will this year feature 25 companies showcasing a diverse range of exciting and innovative food and drink products from across Wales. Companies attending will range from bakery, cheese and dairy, to drinks, grocery and confectionery.
Following on from IFE, Welsh food and drink companies will be joined with industry experts, national and international buyers, journalists, dignitaries and industry leaders at Wales’s first ever international food and drink event.
BlasCymru/TasteWales takes place at the Celtic Manor resort on 23-24 March and will bring the entire industry under one roof to showcase the best of the nation’s growing food and drink offer.
The Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths AM, will be hosting the TasteWales event and making a number of exciting announcements in relation to the food and drink sector, as it seeks to continue its growth over the coming years:
“Welsh food and drink enjoys a reputation for quality and excellence around the world, and we want to support our companies to develop their market within Wales and further afield.
Bringing together producers and industry leaders from across the sector together at events such as IFE and at BlasCymru/TasteWales will provide the platform for us to display the strength, success and pride we have in Welsh food and drink and help us continue with the positive trajectory we are currently on as we strive to reach our 30% growth target by 2020.”
Attendees to both events include niche and artisan producers such as Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company and specialist whole food Good Carma Foods to established household favourites such as Llaeth y Llan, Halen Môn, Brace’s Bakery to Bodnant Welsh Food.
Jonathan Williams, founder of Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company, who offer award winning seaweed and laverbread is exhibiting at both events and is looking forward to the opportunities this will bring,
“It’s exciting to be involved in both of these high profile trade events for the industry to showcase what great and innovative products are on offer in Wales but also a great opportunity to develop business partnerships and build success. It’s rare to have this opportunity, so many senior buyers from retailers and wholesalers and I am very much looking forward to the opportunities it will bring.”
TasteWales includes:
- one to one ‘Meet the Buyer’/partnering sessions between producers and buyers to make new contacts to encourage new trading relationships;
- a showcase of the finest Welsh food and drink products;
- a conference of leading industry figures discussing hot topics in the food and drink industry;
- a dedicated Innovation, Skills & Business Zone, giving an insight into the latest innovation and skills development and business support available in Wales.
Over 100 delegates will be at the TasteWales event including buyers and representatives coming from as far afield as the United States, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, affirming Wales’s place at the forefront of high quality food and drink production.