While the majority of us are looking forward to celebrating our national day close to home some of our best known Welsh food and drink companies will be venturing further afield to promote Welsh produce in Japan. The annual Foodex show, held in Tokyo, is expected to attract 80,000 trade professionals from close to 80 countries, all looking for new produce to sell and distribute.
Supported by the Welsh Government, producers from Wales will be in attendance under the Food and Drink Wales banner, with an overall aim of promoting their produce and increasing their export market.
Anglesey based family business The Lobster Pot has been supplying top quality fresh and sustainably sourced seafood for over 60 years and is now looking to widen its export field according to Tristan Wood,
“We currently distribute the produce we catch here on Anglesey across the UK and most of Europe. However we think now is the time for us to consider expanding our export market as the demand for quality produce such as ours is increasing. Foodex in Tokyo will give us a fantastic opportunity to showcase our produce and meet face to face with key buyers and distributors. Hopefully it will be the first and important step for us into the Asian market.”
There is no better time to celebrate and appreciate Welsh food and drink than around St David’s Day, according to the Deputy Minister for Farming and Food Rebecca Evans:
“St David’s Day celebrations will obviously be an important time for us in Wales, but there will also be celebrations across the world. There is a strong Welsh society in Tokyo which is very proud of its Welsh ancestry, and this year some of our best Welsh food and drink companies will be there to help them celebrate.
“Supporting this key sector is crucial for the Welsh economy as food and drink exports are worth over £300 million per annum - and we are looking to grow that year on year. Events such as Foodex open up many possibilities for new distributors and buyers and I wish all our producers the very best in Japan.
“In addition to the export aspirations, this visit will also give us an opportunity to promote inward investment possibilities in Wales. We have a long tradition of co-operation with Japanese companies within Wales and further high quality investment will be of great benefit to our economy.”
Tan y Castell Food Ltd in Pembrokeshire is another company that wants to see its products on the world stage as Gregory Summerly explains,
“We specialise in traditional baked food such as Welsh cakes and bara brith and while our products can be seen in most food outlets across the UK we are in a position now to consider options further abroad. The chance to exhibit at Foodex and to discuss with distributors will allow us to identify consumer needs within those markets and respond accordingly. For a company of our size this would not be possible without Welsh Government support and, if all goes well, I hope that our Welsh cakes will be seen further afield in future.”
Foodex 2015 will be held in Tokyo from 3-6 March with 7 Welsh businesses in attendance on the Food and Drink Wales stand.