Deputy Minister for Farming and Food, Rebecca Evans will today attend the Brussels Seafood Global EXPO, the largest seafood trade event in the world.
The Deputy Minister will join eight companies from Wales, all flying the flag for Welsh food and drink, and more than 25,800 buyers and suppliers from 150 countries.
She said
“We know in Wales that the quality of Welsh food and drink is up there with the best in the world, and having a presence at events such as the Global Seafood EXPO gives us a great platform to promote this.
“Wales has a remarkable range of highly innovative Seafood producers, who are making their mark internationally and whose brands are renowned across the globe for their high quality and for the sustainable way in which they are produced. This is also evident in the number of Welsh produce securing Protected Food Name (PFN) status, such Anglesey Sea Salt.”
A presence at UK and international events is all part of the Welsh Government’s long-term ambition to significantly grow sales and increase market share through adding value, accessing new markets and building on existing markets in the food and drink sector in Wales as part of our Action Plan – Towards Sustainable Growth.
The Deputy Minister also announced some recent good news from one of the Welsh companies in attendance.
She said:
“Sustainability is important to Wales and sets the context for how we manage our seas and fish stocks. I am pleased that we have Bangor Mussel Producers here today who, in 2010, were the first in the World to achieve the Marine Stewardship Council accreditation for an enhanced mussel fishery.
“Another company with us today, Anglesey Aquaculture, have very recently secured the contract to be the sole supplier of whole and filleted fresh Sea bass on Fishmongers counters in Waitrose supermarkets across the UK.”
Anglesey Aquaculture were recently awarded the highest level for sustainably produced fish by the Marine Conservation Society. The contract with Waitrose is worth around £35,000 a week and will be in addition to the Anglesey Aquacultures current sales within the UK and USA.