Food and Drink Wales Industry Board - Chair's Update

As we being to approach autumn it’s amazing to think how quickly this year is passing. It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the epic success of Taste Wales / Blas Cymru in March and now we’re recovering from the sweltering temperatures that welcomed us at this year’s Royal Welsh Show - another highlight of Wales’ food and drink event calendar.

Future Strategy & Planning for Food and Drink in Wales

A new consultation paper has been published 'Our ambition to further develop Wales’ food and drink sector'. Feedback and comments are being invited on future priorities.

Over £110 million boost to the Welsh food and drink industry thanks to Project HELIX

A new report published this week shows that Project HELIX, an initiative developed to boost innovation and efficiency in the Welsh food and drink industry, has already had an impact of over £110 million, since its launch three years ago.

New European collaborative project launched to help small and medium sized food and drink companies innovate in the healthy food sector

Small and medium sized Welsh food and drink businesses are set to benefit from a €1.2 million international project, funded through the Interreg Atlantic Area programme, to help broaden their knowledge and capacity to supply the increased demand for innovative healthy food.

Welsh Food and Drink in Visitor Attractions

The study was commissioned by Welsh Government who wanted to better understand the extent of Welsh food and drink provision within visitor attractions in Wales.

Food Skills Cymru

Have recently awarded a contract to Shropshire Training for the delivery of the

Welfare of Animals at Time of Killing

(WATOK) training.

Funding is available to all sizes of businesses, to access the funding for completing the WOTAK training. Eligible businesses need to complete the fully funded Skills Diagnostic Tool with a member of the team, and submit a funding application form. Information on the funding available here through Food Skills Cymru.

Welsh Food Exports are outpacing the UK

The Welsh food & drink export statistics for 2018 have been published. They reveal Welsh exports have grown 32% since 2014. The report includes figures by product category and destination country.

A new measure of Food Poverty

Plans have been outlined to create an official measure of food poverty in the UK. These plans were the result of collaboration between Welsh Government, Scottish Government, DWP, the Office for National Statistics and others. It will take time to create a robust measure for Wales, but these plans pave the way.  

Food and Farming turnover at £6.8 billion

The 2018 Food & Drink economic appraisal summarises economic stats across the Food & Drink industry, and manufacturing sub sectors. 

Gulfood, Dubai 2020

Recruitment is now underway to exhibit with the Welsh Government under the Cymru/Wales banner at Gulfood, Dubai 16 – 20 February 2020. Deadline for receiving your application form is the 20th September 2019.

Trade Development Visit - Doha, Qatar

Hurry - we still have a couple of places available to participate in a Food and Drink Wales supported Trade Development Visit to Doha Qatar on 9 - 14 November.

Start and grow a food and drink business

This event marks a dedicated food and drink fortnight in the Clicks and Mortar shop in St David’s Centre, Cardiff, and is supported by the Welsh Government food and drink network.