News

The Great Taste Awards 2024 has once again highlighted the exceptional quality of Welsh food and drink, with numerous producers being recognised for their outstanding products. In a remarkable showcase of culinary prowess, Welsh producers have been honoured with a remarkable 149 awards, with 97 products achieving 1-star, 45 receiving 2-stars and 7 earning the gold stamp of approval with 3-stars. The awards come following recent statistics showing the food and drink industry in Wales...

Over 20 brewers from across Wales have tapped into the latest innovations and best practice from the UK’s leading provider of brewing and analysis services, allowing them to grow and develop their businesses. Brewing Skills Development is a course recently offered to brewers by the Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru | Food & Drink Skills Wales programme and the Food & Drink Wales Drinks Cluster on behalf of the Welsh Government and delivered by industry...

Project HELIX is delivered by the three food centres across Wales that make up Food Innovation Wales. The project offers a range of funded support in response to the needs of the sector, including help with process operations, new product development and food safety certification. Since July 2023, Project HELIX has been funded solely by Welsh Governmentand has delivered the following benefits to the Welsh food and drink industry: £119 million financial impact 101 jobs...

There will be an exciting array of new and growing Welsh food and drink businesses in the Food Hall in this year’s Royal Welsh Show ( July 22nd – 25th). The Cywain stand ( number 63) will spotlight fourteen up-and-coming producers during the show, providing them with a platform to test trade their skills and showcase their products to an audience of thousands. The Cywain programme works with food and drink producers across Wales, helping...

Food & Drink Skills Wales | Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru, a Welsh Government funded programme has recently collaborated with AMRC Cymru to provide a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience of advanced manufacturing, during a week-long work experience for four budding engineers aged between 16 and 18. Recent research commissioned by the programme found that a skills deficit existed in technical and engineering, with demand for such roles destined to increase in the future...

The Food & Drink Wales Sustainability Conference, which is being delivered by the Welsh Government’s Food & Drink Wales Sustainability Cluster, in collaboration with the Food & Drink Wales Insight Programme, will help businesses improve their sustainability in areas that matter most to consumers. Using an interactive mix of activities and networking opportunities, the event aims to increase business knowledge across market insights, consumer trends, and buyer Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The event will also...

An ice cream and pizzeria business in Beddgelert has won the Upskilling Business of the Year award in this year’s Wales Food and Drink Awards, recently held at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. The awards, which are held annually, provide a platform for Welsh producers and suppliers to celebrate their achievements in a rapidly growing and diverse industry. Winning the Upskilling Business of the Year category was Glaslyn of Beddgelert, which required them to evidence a...

Welsh vineyards will be welcoming guests from Wales and beyond to taste what its flourishing wine sector has to offer during the annual Welsh Wine Week. Now in its fourth year, this year’s Welsh Wine Week, which takes place from 24th May to the 2nd June, is set to be the most vibrant yet, with a plethora of events from tastings, vineyard tours, meet the producer, promotions and celebrations hosted by the nation’s most esteemed...

As World Bee Day approaches (May 20 th) the next generation of apicultural talent is being nurtured by bee farmers in Wales through the offering of apprenticeships. Designated by the United Nations, World Bee Day acknowledges the role of bees and other pollinators in sustainable development, food security, and biodiversity. The date was chosen to coincide with the birthday of Anton Janša, an 18th-century Slovenian apiarist who is acknowledged as the pioneer of beekeeping. Welsh...

A fund to support food and drink festivals and events across Wales opens for applications on Wednesday 1 May. The small grant scheme supports festivals and events to add value to the industry in Wales whilst improving visitor access to and awareness of Welsh food and drink. The fund will help address the key actions of the Welsh Government’s ‘Vision for the Food & Drink Industry’. It also aims to encourage collaboration and co-operation between...