As we approach the end of 2020 and look ahead to the new year, it is clear that the food and drink industry continues to face major challenges.   With many hospitality businesses already closed due to current restrictions, First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced higher-level restrictions will come into force to control rapidly accelerating coronavirus rates across Wales, leaving many businesses without their usual Christmas income, as well as facing uncertainty for the future.

Alongside the impact of those restrictions, the UK’s transition period for leaving the EU ends on December 31^st and as it stands, talks and negotiations over a post-Brexit trade agreement are still ongoing.

As the voice of the food and drink industry in Wales, it is our role as a Board to stay connected with businesses, highlight challenges and opportunities to Government and to help influence trade deal negotiations to ensure Welsh interests are protected and that we see tangible long term benefits. To do that we must all stay informed and ensure government and industry representatives in Wales make a valuable and insightful contribution to those in Westminster who have the responsibility to negotiate these trade deals. It’s a long journey and whilst we appreciate all the hard work undertaken in achieving roll over trade deals, we must be mindful that we’re just at the start of the negotiation of longer trade deals which will start in the new year. We need to be clear as an industry on what we want out of those negotiations and work together to make our voice heard.

We understand that in the context of the impact of Covid-19, many businesses are struggling, but we will continue to stress the importance of preparing for 2021 and ensuring the food and drink industry in Wales is ready for the changes that will take place. As hard as it may sound now, we need to also focus on the opportunities that will arise as we enter a new ’post Brexit world’.

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

• Press release with details of higher level restrictions to control coronavirus in Wales

• Eligibility checker for hospitality, leisure and tourism fund goes live

• Building business resilience in volatile times – Food Skills Cymru webinar at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair

• Information on moving animal products, plants, and plant products from Great Britain to Northern Ireland

• Preparing the Food and Drink sector for January 2021

• New four tier coronavirus alert system for Wales published

• 3 key things to do before the end of the EU Transition period -Food and Drink Federation podcast

• Support hotlines for Welsh food and drink manufacturers

• Food Skills Cymru Funded Support

• Welsh Government EU Transition Portal

• Business Wales EU Transition Portal

Latest industry news

• Virtual visit down under contributes to business success

• Cwmfarm Charcuterie picks up business award

• UK food and drink trends fundamentally changed by pandemic, Waitrose Food and Drink Report 2021

• Local businesses praise customers after success of virtual North Wales food festival

• Sainsbury’s to hire 12,000 staff to meet online Christmas demand

• What could Brexit mean for food prices?

• UK food and drink exports slump over £600m in third quarter

• Half of food and drink SMEs have made no Brexit prepartions

Recent key actions from the Board

• The Board Chair is continuing to monitor the progress of trade negotiations and meet with Government representatives in Wales and Westminster to help ensure Wales makes a valuable contribution to negotiations and sees tangible benefits as deals evolve.

• The Board received an update on the development of the Marcomms campaign for Sustainable Brand Values 2021.

• The Board met with BlasCymru/TasteWales 2021 organisers regarding the conference, which will be delivered in a digital and physical format and live streamed from the Celtic Manor International Convention Centre (ICC) in Newport later next year.

• The Board is working with the Clusters to allocate a Board member to individual cluster groups for 2021.

• Board member Rhian Hayward presented on the world-leading facilities and expertise available to the food and drink sector at the AberInnovation campus. This is a real opportunity for our 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 Board shares all links to information, support and toolkits via Twitter and LinkedIn.

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