There is no doubt we are living in challenging times for our country and our industry. As we begin to make tentative steps to re-open following the recent Welsh firebreak and as we approach the end of the EU Exit Transition period, we recognise that our industry certainly has ‘a lot on its plate’.

With new restrictions and guidelines coming into play surrounding the ban on the sale of alcohol and 6pm closing times for hospitality businesses from Friday 4^th December, we know that that there are many, many concerns facing Welsh food and drink businesses. Our aim is resolute as a Board – to work with our industry and Government to identify and tackle the many issues which affect our industry and to provide urgent and practical solutions where possible.

You may have read that the Minister recently made new appointments to our Board which will greatly strengthen our experience, diversity and representation. I am proud to be working with a Board that is absolutely determined to make a difference for our industry.  So the question is, how can we help?

Alongside cluster groups, the Board and its members can provide guidance and advice to help navigate these challenges. From insight into safely reopening the hospitality sector to finalising new trade regulations, we can signpost you to the information that is needed right now, as well as voicing your concerns and questions to Government, both in Wales and in Westminster.

Board member James Wright, Marketing Director of Aber Falls Distillery, has also shared how his distillery has prepared for the UK Transition period in a new film in partnership with the UK Government in Wales. You can watch the film here for more information.

If you would like to get in touch with me directly about the issues your business or sector is facing, please email Chair.FDWIB@gov.wales. Now is the time to work together, raise any concerns and provide solutions to ensure the ever-growing success and sustainability of the industry.

Andy Richardson, Chair of the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board

Latest on Covid-19 and EU transition for food and drink businesses

• Updated guidance on claiming wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

• Coronavirus: Guidance for tourism and hospitality businesses in Wales

• Business Wales EU Transition Portal

• Welsh Government: EU Transition Portal

• Transition Period: Letters to agri-food, consumer good and tourism and hospitality sectors

• UK Transition Period Updated Guidance

Latest industry news

• Welsh Food and Drink producers urging essential action before end of the Transition Period

• £340m support for Welsh businesses as new coronavirus rules announced

• How one Welsh food business reinvented itself during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Anglesey Food Week starts this week

• Support Wales' food and drink businesses this Christmas with our Order Local campaign

• Hampers offer key to collaboration this Christmas

• Cywain opens a new window on Welsh festive food & drink

• Meat industry calls for Covid-19 vaccine priority after factory outbreaks

• Grants available for small horticultural businesses in Wales

• The Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Wales is looking for four new members for its Welsh Food Advisory Committee

Recent key actions from the Board

• The Board met with Visit Wales to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on the hospitality and tourism industry across Wales. The Board is actively working with Visit Wales to help address the challenges that have arisen as a result of the pandemic and to help improve the sustainability of businesses going forward.

• The Board met with FareShare Cymru to focus on ways in which businesses can come together to support vulnerable communities in Wales. The Board will continue to work with FareShare Cymru to encourage businesses to get involved before Christmas and into 2021.

• Our focus on skills in the food and drink industry in Wales continues. We are helping to highlight the need for apprenticeship schemes and their development across all sectors within the industry.

• The Board is also working closely with BAME (black, Asian, and minority ethnic) food and drink businesses to ensure equality of representation and communication from the industry.

• The Board continues to work on the delivery plan for the Covid-19 recovery strategy with a focus on eleven key topics including market intelligence, business advice, online sales, productivity and business resilience and risk management, added value, affordable finance, industry accreditation, retail plan, global trade sustainable business models and developing new skills.

• The Sustainability Cluster is leading the way on developing sustainable production systems for all food and drink businesses in Wales in support of our Brand and its sustainable brand values.

• The Board shares all links to information, support and toolkits via Twitter and LinkedIn.

Trade without travel

Last month, the Atlantic Food Export Virtual Expo took place, marking the conclusion of the three-year EU and Welsh Government funded project supporting trade and cooperation for food producers in the Atlantic region.

The Virtual Expo brought together food producers, importers, agencies and policy makers for a three-day online event. The focus of the event was to look at how smaller, quality-focused food and drinks producers can achieve results through collaborative export models.

In previous years, the Atlantic Food Export Project was held face-to-face through trade shows introducing food producers with international markets. As with so many areas, the coronavirus pandemic forced the Atlantic Food Export Project to rethink delivery while travel hasn’t been possible.

With the event taking place online, the Export Project has been able to hold virtual trade missions with those in London, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Board member, Alison Lea-Wilson attended the event and said “The collaborations from this project have worked on lots of different levels. Taking part Atlantic Food Export has given us more contacts in the markets that we can leverage to introduce us to other routes to market.  We have also met with potential partners through the project who have been using our products in their new product development activities.”

Sokhy Sandhu from Samosaco is another producer who joined the collaboration meetings in the different regions, including Belfast, Dordogne, and northern Portugal. He said, “This project gave us the opportunity to meet with food producers from other countries and we’re now looking at a collaboration opportunity with a company based in Seville.  We’ve been able to share information about our suppliers which have helped other businesses. The project has helped us understand the different markets and what we need to do to develop our market presence in those markets. As a producer of vegan products, we can see that the opportunities in European markets are growing and following the UK trend.”

For more information on the Atlantic Expo Project, visit http://atlanticfoodexport.eu/

Stay connected for updates on Twitter and LinkedIn. Join our Facebook Group to collaborate workforce. Get in touch with us via email at Chair.FDWIB@gov.wales