The Royal Welsh Show Food Hall is always a hive of culinary activity, but this year will see extra emphasis on the people behind the Welsh Food and Drink industry and the Welsh Government’s recently launched Action Plan for the food and drink industry, which sets out ambitions to grow the industry by 30% by 2020.
The 2014 Food Hall will have a ‘new look’, from the range of produce and activities to information and opportunities for those looking to learn more about an industry which has a supply chain worth £17.3 billion to the Welsh economy.
More than **60 companies will be taking part in the annual food showcase creating a real microcosm of the Welsh food and drink industry from cheese to meat, and wine to cakes.
Artisan producers such as Homemade Country Preserves will rub shoulders with producers like South Caernarfon Creameries Ltd and Snowdonia Cheese Company, each with the aim of promoting great Welsh food and drink to the world.
Filling the stands will be a mix of familiar faces and companies new to the Food Hall, among them Bodnant Welsh Food, Narnas, Carmarthenshire Cheese Company, Edwards of Conwy, Radnor Hills Mineral Water Company Ltd, Prima Foods, Snowdonia Ice Cream, Llechwedd Meats and The Village Bakery Ltd – which recently topped the ‘Fast Growth 50’ poll of Welsh businesses.
Open daily from 8am to 6pm, the Food Hall offers visitors the chance to buy a huge range of food and drink - much of it award-winning - all under one roof. A chilled Shop & Collect service (food crèche) will be available on site for those who want to leave their purchases while continuing their visit.
Situated in a marquee at the rear of the hall will be a Demonstration Kitchen where the programme each day will feature a host of activities focussing on Welsh produce.
Top chefs and amateur cooks – including some familiar television faces – supported by producers will show how to get the best from a range of seasonal produce, including healthy family meals and specialist ‘free-from’ recipes.
There will also be a special demonstration highlighting cuisine from Radnorshire – the Royal Welsh feature county for 2014.
Visitors will have the opportunity to get involved too with a variety of events including cook-offs, a quiz and a daily competition to win a sumptuous hamper of Welsh food and drink.
The opportunity to bring together major players in the food supply chain makes the Royal Welsh Show an ideal occasion to showcase not just the industry but the opportunities afforded in areas such as employment, training & skills, education, and apprenticeships.
Emphasising the spirit of cross-industry co-operation will be 17 *partner organisations which will have wide variety of information about the Welsh Food & Drink sector.
A number of business focussed events and briefings will also take place within the Food Hall throughout the week and there is a new business lounge for trade buyers.
These elements play a key role in the Welsh Government’s new Action Plan for the Welsh food and drink industry, which will be highlighted throughout the Food Hall.
Launched last month, ‘Towards Sustainable Growth – An Action Plan for the Food and Drink Industry 2014-2020’ aims to equip the Welsh industry, from farmers to manufacturers, with the skills and tools it needs to grow sustainably and prosper in today’s marketplace.
Added to this is emphasis on market development support to nurture and enhance innovation and business growth in an environment where food security and safety are paramount.
Central to the Action Plan’s success will be the forging of a globally recognisable ‘Bwyd a Diod Cymru / Food & Drink Wales’ identity for the industry, along with the establishment of a Food & Drink Wales Industry Board to take ownership of the Action Plan which is the result of months of consultation with the industry itself.
Visitors to the Food Hall will see not just an amazing array of Welsh produce, but will also get a taste of what work is being done to help the food and drink industry compete and flourish on the world-wide stage. Producers will have the opportunity to access and learn about the help and tools available to them to enhance their enterprises and be part of a truly great Welsh food and drink industry.