Welsh food and drink producers are gearing up for one of the UK’s most important trade events, Northern Restaurant & Bar 2024 (March 12 & 13).
Northern Restaurant & Bar 2024 (NRB24) is the north of England’s leading hospitality trade event, and the Welsh contingent includes products as diverse as kombucha drinks and high quality dog chews – all hoping to catch the eye of the hospitality industry audience.
Held at the Manchester Central Convention Complex, NRB24 will bring together over 8,500 visitors and more than 300 exhibitors for two days of business, networking, and education.
Eight Welsh producers will be exhibiting at the event under the Cywain project – a Welsh Government funded advisory service for micro to medium-sized food and drink businesses in Wales. It works with producers, helping them to grow and develop their businesses.
Taking to the Cywain stand will be Conwy Kombucha Limited, Grounds For Good Ltd, WeDoughIt4U, Magic Dragon Brewing, Chilly Cow Ice Cream Ltd, Do Goodly Foods Ltd, Wild Moon Distillery and Dewkes Snacks for Dogs.
The prospect of expanding into the North of England’s hospitality sector is an exciting one for Welsh producers. This is especially so, as research conducted by NRB in partnership with CGA by NielsenIQ has revealed an average 7.2% growth in sales in managed pubs, bars and restaurants in cities in northern England.
Alex James, Cywain Manager, said, “NRB24 is an excellent opportunity for Welsh food and drink producers to position themselves in front of an audience focussed on delivering memorable and exciting dining experiences.
“We know Welsh produce has an excellent reputation for quality and innovation, and recent research by Welsh Government’s Food and Drink Wales Insight Programme highlights the growing attachment to Welsh food and drink from consumers outside of Wales.
“Indeed, more than half of visitors to Wales from England and Scotland said that when they return home, they would like to have more Welsh products available when they eat out.
“All the food and drink businesses exhibiting with Cywain have something fresh to offer visitors to NRB24, and I’m sure it will be a busy two days for the producers.”
Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd said, “Events such as Northern Restaurant & Bar bring together key players in the hospitality sector and provide an important opportunity for Welsh food and drink businesses to showcase their high-quality products.
“I am sure the varied and innovative selection of Welsh food and drink on display at the show will help to further expand markets and opportunities in other parts of the UK. I wish the eight producers from Wales who are attending, a very successful event.”
WELSH FOOD & DRINK PRODUCERS EXHIBITING AT NRB24
TUESDAY, MARCH 12th
CONWY KOMBUCHA LTD
Traditionally brewed in small batches, Conwy Kombucha Ltd’s Blighty Booch Kombucha fermented tea drinks have gathered fans and wowed judges since the company launched in 2018.
The Blighty Booch Kombucha range of refreshing soft drinks is organic and vegan. The kombucha is allowed to ferment for three weeks, meaning it is unpasteurised and full of living probiotics and cleansing acids.
Named Artisan Business 2023, the North Wales company’s drinks have garnered many, including the prestigious Great Taste Awards 3 star accolade for its Organic Ginger Kombucha.
New to try at the Northern Restaurant and Bar show will be the latest variety – the delicious Bramley Elderflower Kombucha.
More information: www.blightybooch.com
GROUNDS FOR GOOD LTD.
Spent coffee grounds are turned into a range of innovative food and drink products by Penarth-based Grounds For Good Ltd.
Created by retired medic Dr Rosie Oretti, the company’s mission is to create products that are good for the planet, people’s health and the community by giving what many would regard as a waste product a ‘second life’.
The result is a range of food, lifestyle and wellbeing products, including London Dry Gin, the triple award-winning Vodka, and vegan chocolate bars.
Also appearing at Northern Restaurant and Bar will be Grounds For Good’s latest offering - a beautiful extra virgin, coffee-infused rapeseed oil.
More information: www.groundsforgood.co.uk
WEDOUGHIT4U
Wedoughit4u supplies the hospitality sector across the UK with fresh, hand stretched artisan pizza bases made using the finest ingredients.
The North Wales company’s tagline is ‘No Mess, No Fuss’, and its unique pizza-making experience provides its UK-wide hospitality customers with an easy-to-use pizza kit to create restaurant-quality artisan pizzas.
The Wedoughit4u kit consists of pre-hand rolled and stretched par-cooked pizza bases, a cold blended pizza base sauce, and a combination of mozzarella and mature cheddar cheese to create fabulous pizzas up to 12 inches in size.
The dough is made using Doppio Zero flour, live yeast, and warm filtered water to give it the silky, elastic stretch it needs to make the perfect pizza. It is then triple-proofed before being turned into a thin-crust, artisan pizza.
More information: www.wedoughit4u.co.uk
MAGIC DRAGON BREWING
Combining traditional brewing methods with a modern take on classic flavours makes Magic Dragon Brewing’s award-winning craft beers stand out.
For the husband and wife team behind the venture, Richard and Liz Lever, brewing is their life, and they make what they love. At their Wrexham micro-brewery, they use the finest ingredients and Welsh water and brew them into great-tasting beers, which are available in bottles, casks and kegs.
At Northern Restaurant and Bar will be Magic Dragon Brewing’s full range of eight bottled beers, which include the Great Taste Award winning Old Magic dark mild and Eyton Gold.
Beer lovers have also been beating a path to Magic Dragon’s brewery’s tap room, which has been listed in CAMRA’s prestigious Good Beer Guide for three years running – and was named CAMRA Pub of Wales 2023.
More information: www.magicdragonbrewing.com
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13th
CHILLY COW ICE CREAM
Award-winning producer Chilly Cow Ice Cream has its roots in a family farm in the lush foothills of the Clwydian Range in North Wales.
The creamy butterfat-rich milk from the farm’s herd of Brown Swiss cows is perfect for making delicious ice cream.
Each ice cream is handmade, and each flavour is carefully considered, developed, and taste tested - there are always plenty of volunteers for that bit!
Chilly Cow produces dairy ice cream and non-dairy ice cream, and they are planning to take two new ice creams – including a dairy-free variety – to Northern Restaurant & Bar. While under its Chilly Paws range, the company also produces ice cream for dogs.
More information: www.chillycow.co.uk
DO GOODLY FOODS LTD
Do Goodly Foods offers a unique award-winning range of great–tasting, better–for–you plant–based dips and sauces.
The Do Goodly products are made in small batches using natural ingredients packed with nutrients and have
New to the range is a pimped-up classic of a Chip Shop Curry Sauce and a super tasty Nacho Cheeze.
The Welsh based company is committed to the environment and community – where possible, using recycled materials in packaging and donating 10% of its profits to mental health charity Mind.
More information: www.dogoodlydips.com
WILD MOON
Inspired by a passion for nature and Welsh folklore to create magical drinks,
Deeply inspired by the power of Mother Nature, Jade produces her craft spirits at her micro distillery known as 'The Coven' celebrating the seasons of the Celtic/Pagan “Wheel of the Year” each bringing an abundance of beautiful ingredients to make Wild Moon's multi-award-winning hand-crafted drinks.
Wild Moon recently completed its 'Wheel of the Year' range with three new rums which will be exhibited at Northern Restaurant & Bar: Mabon (roasted apple spiced rum), Samhain (caramelised pear and pumpkin spiced rum), and Yuletide (traditional Yule Log chocolate rum), as well as her gins and vodka.
More information: www.wild-moon.co.uk
DEWKES SNACKS FOR DOGS
With its range of dog chews for hospitality and out of home settings, Dewkes Snacks for Dogs caters specifically for dogs with a social life.
Crafted with care, Dewkes’ range is suited to all dog friendly venues, from quaint farm shops and delis to bustling coffee shops and gastropubs.
The business’ core philosophy is 'Happy Dog, Happy Customer'; each product promises quality and is designed to enhance the bond between pets and their owners in public spaces and in the comfort of their homes.
The Swansea-based business specialises in creating 100% natural, long-lasting chews and offers the ideal harmony of natural, wholesome pet care and creative hospitality offerings.
Capitalising on years of industry expertise in the pet trade, Dewkes has produced products that serve a dual purpose for stockists and consumers, as the offering unlocks new revenue streams, increases dwell time and enhances customer loyalty whilst maintaining the well-being of dogs.
More information: www.dewkes.co.uk