News and events

Menter a Busnes is to expand its portfolio of expert support for food and drink businesses in Wales with the addition of a new Welsh Government skills programme. The ‘Skills for Success’ programme is part of the Welsh Government’s commitment to working with the food and drink industry to develop a skilled and capable workforce. It will help Welsh food and drink companies access training and skills development for their staff, driving up productivity, improving...

Gower Salt Marsh Lamb has joined the ranks of Champagne, Parma Ham and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies by being awarded protected food name status by the European Commission. From 27 July the Gower Salt Marsh Lamb name is further protected by the European Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, which is one of three special European Protected Food Name (PFN) designations. On the 11 August 2021, Gower Salt Marsh Lamb was the first new product...

Welsh Food and Drink exports were worth £797 million in 2022, the highest recorded yearly value, Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has announced. When the RWAS was in full swing and crowds enjoying some of Wales’ best food and drink products, the Minister revealed the industry’s exports increased by £157m between 2021 and 2022, representing a 24.5% rise. This is a larger percentage increase than the UK as a whole, which grew by 21.6%. The...

One of Wales’ most popular spirits, the Single Malt Welsh Whisky, is now officially protected after it secured PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) UK GI status. This is the first new UK spirit to achieve GI status since the UKGI was launched and also becomes Wales’s first GI spirit. Single Malt Welsh Whisky is now the 20th member of the Welsh GI family of products, joining the likes of other great produce such as Anglesey Sea...

Flavours of Wales will be brought to a globe-trotting public audience later this month at a food event aimed at consumers keen to sample world cuisine. Welsh food and drink producers will be exhibiting at the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival ( July 15th & 16th) under the auspices of Welsh Government Food & Drink Wales at stand C2 ( mezzanine level). Taking to the Wales stand will be an array of food and drink...

Culinary Association of Wales president Arwyn Watkins, OBE, has added another award to his growing list of honours. He won the Leader of the Year Award, sponsored by Veteran Trees, at this year’s Welsh Veterans Awards and was runner-up in Entrepreneur of the Year Award, sponsored by Pinnacle Document Solutions Group. The award was in recognition of Arwyn’s role as CAW president in leading the successful Team Wales bid to bring the Worldchefs Congress and...

A £300,000 fund to provide support for food and drink festivals and events across Wales opens for applications today (Saturday, 1 July). The small grant scheme, which will address the 10 key actions of the Welsh Government’s ‘Vision for the Food & Drink Industry’, will support festivals and events to add value to the industry in Wales and aims to improve visitor access to and awareness of Welsh food and drink. It also aims to...

The Welsh wine industry has been handed a boost and developed stronger links with UK hospitality and retail audiences, as well as increased consumer awareness following Welsh Wine Week. During the celebration (2-11 June 2023) several events, guided tours and promotions were held to give wine lovers the chance to discover Wales’ picturesque vineyards and sample the wide range of award-winning wines available. A trade event featuring six Welsh vineyards took place in Cardiff on...

Two Welsh artisan food businesses are collaborating to create new opportunities for their products and increase the health benefits for customers. Brecon-based Cradoc’s Savoury Biscuits is using rapeseed oil produced by Pembrokeshire Gold in Manorbier as part of its drive to lower the saturated fat content of its crackers. A premium product producer, Cradoc’s recipes are packed with wheat, oats, fresh vegetables and fruits, seeds, herbs, and spices. The crackers are sold online and at...

Everything FareShare Cymru does serves to fight hunger, and tackle food waste. FareShare Cymru's mission is to partner with the food and drink industry to help prevent commercially unviable food from becoming food waste. In the last year, the food industry has faced headwinds in the form of global and national issues that have affected the supply of surplus food. These have included the war in Ukraine; global supply chain issues; labour and recruitment challenges...