News

The talents of Wales’ food and drink processing and manufacturing busineses were recognised recently (Thursday 24 February) at the Lantra Cymru Awards 2021. The Lantra Cymru Wales awards recognises the initiatives, skills and enthusiasm of individuals pursuing careers within the environmental, land-based and food manufacturing sectors. This is the first time that the Food Skills Cymru programme has had a category in the Lantra Cymru Awards. It is in recognition of the food and drink...

Judges were encouraged by the passion and optimism for the hospitality industry exuding from everyone involved in the Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC) which ended on Thursday last week after three days of competitions. The popular, annual event, organised by the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW), made a welcome return to Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s campus in Rhos-on-Sea after a pandemic enforced absence of two years. Main sponsor is Food and Drink Wales, the Welsh Government’s...

They are all setting up at the #CaruCymruCaruBlas #LoveWalesLoveTaste Producers Market which is located at Ely’s Yard, near Brick Lane in the heart of the East End. Producers such as Conwy-based The Coconut Kitchen, Black Mountain Roast in Hay-on-Wye and Spirit of Wales Distillery, Newport will be showcasing their produce. In all, there will be 16 businesses from Wales and they’re encouraging people to go along and try their fantastic produce. Hannah Turner from Brooke’s...

Sustainable development is at the heart of our founding legislation here in Wales and to support Welsh Government achieve their targets on sustainability, the Food Skills Cymru project delivered by Lantra, has recently worked in collaboration with Cynnal Cymru and Eco Studio to develop a Sustainability Training Programme specifically for the food and drink manufacturing industry. The purpose of the training course is to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to develop systems and...

Budweiser apprentices have met Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths and spoken about the benefits of embarking on an apprenticeship with the company. On a visit to the Senedd during Apprenticeship Week Wales, 10 of the drink s brand’s apprentices discussed their work at the Magor site and their hopes for the future. Apprenticeship Week Wales is a celebration of the hard work and dedication of apprentices and the support and commitment shown by their employers...

A desire to protect and enhance the bee and pollinator population in Wales has led to an innovative project between two seemingly disparate businesses. Although drawn from different parts of the food industry, Ellis Eggs Ltd and Bee Welsh Honey have a common desire to boost the fortunes of bees and pollinators and highlight their vital impact on the environment. Jason Ellis, owner of the Hirwaun-based egg company, and Builth Wells bee farmer Shane Llewelyn-Jones...

Welsh food and drink producers will be showcasing their products in Dubai in February at Gulfood, one of the world’s largest food and drink trade exhibitions. The event marks a significant opportunity for Welsh businesses in the sector to travel to a major global event. Gulfood is a five-day event held between 13-17 February at the Dubai World Trade Centre. It will feature international brands displaying their latest food and drink products and services. The...

As the Sustainable Scale Up Cluster heads towards its first year anniversary, we’re delighted to have signed up our 50 th business member. Under the guidance of the Regional Cluster Manager for south west Wales, Andrew Macpherson, the 50th business to join the Cluster is north Pembrokeshire based The Welsh Saucery, who create artisan sauces to complement Welsh produce. Co-owner Steve Lewis comments “We are thrilled to be accepted into the Sustainable Scale Up Cluster...

The Welsh Government is developing a Community Food Strategy. We’d like to hear from those already involved in community food projects/enterprises in Wales, to understand what community food means to you, and to learn about your experience of being involved in Community Food projects/enterprises. This is not a formal consultation and there will be further opportunities to engage. We would be grateful for your input through this short survey. It should take no longer than...

BlasCymru/TasteWales 2021 has already helped identify an estimated £14m in new and potential business deals for Welsh food and drink businesses, according to initial feedback. The event which took place in October at the ICCW in Newport provided an opportunity to showcase food and drink from Wales. More than 100 food and drink businesses from Wales took part with 21 of these being established during the Covid pandemic. In total, 1,695 Covid-secure meetings took place...