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Project HELIX has been one of the Welsh Government’s key programmes for supporting the Welsh food and drink industry over the last decade, providing a range of assistance, including help with food safety certification scheme compliance, innovative new product development, and improving process efficiencies.
Read the newly launched Project HELIX Annual Report to find out more about how Project HELIX supported the Welsh food and drink industry over the last decade and how its successor, the HELIX Programme, will continue to do so.
Continue reading this article on the Food Industry Centre Website.
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 The Deputy First Minister with responsibility for climate change and rural affairs toured the flagship Food & Drink Wales Business Lounge at the Royal Welsh Show, witnessing firsthand how Welsh Government support is delivering major commercial opportunities for food and drink businesses across Wales.
“The Welsh food and drink industry is a cornerstone of our economy and a source of immense national pride. Recent figures show that the Welsh Food and Drink sector produced a turnover more than £10 billion, while the supply chain employed in excess of 223,000 people accounting for 17% of Wales’ total workforce.”
Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies
Continue reading this article on the Welsh Government Website
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 Food & Drink Wales hosted one of its largest ever showcase displays at the Royal Welsh Show, attracting nearly 300 buyers from the retail and foodservice sectors across Wales and the UK. Located on the first floor of the Food Hall, the event featured a “meet the maker” theme, offering buyers the chance to engage directly with producers and sample a diverse range of products.
More than 310 Welsh food and drink companies were represented, providing a vibrant platform to celebrate and promote the industry’s innovation, quality, and heritage. A particular highlight was the dedicated display of all 24 Welsh products with Geographical Indication (GI) status, underscoring their unique provenance and excellence.
The showcase also shone a spotlight on Caernarfon, this year’s Royal Welsh Show feature county, with a dedicated section promoting exceptional local produce. In addition, a new “food-to-go” salad bar highlighted a range of fresh Welsh-grown salads and micro leaves, reflecting the growing demand for healthy, convenient options.
The Food & Drink Wales Business Lounge proved to be a hub of activity, generating over 1,600 enquiries from visiting buyers. This strong level of engagement demonstrates the increasing appetite for high-quality Welsh products and highlights the showcase’s success in fostering valuable business connections.
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Food and drink manufacturers from across Wales gathered at this year’s Royal Welsh Show to address one of the sector’s most pressing challenges — adapting to climate change. The event brought together industry stakeholders, policy representatives, and climate adaptation experts to explore how the evolving climate is creating both serious risks and new opportunities.
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Climate Insights for a Resilient Sector
The session highlighted projected climate scenarios, providing vital insights into likely short-term and long-term impacts on the sector. Attendees were guided through how to assess climate-related risks and
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opportunities at every stage of their business — from sourcing and processing to logistics and distribution.
The key message? Preparation is crucial. Businesses that proactively adapt to climate change can expect benefits including reduced costs, improved supply chain resilience, and enhanced long-term profitability. Importantly, the shifting climate may also unlock new possibilities for product innovation, seasonal lines, and category growth.
Sarah Lewis, Deputy Director of Lantra Wales, attended the event and commented,
“An insightful and thought-provoking event, raising awareness of just how much our industry needs to change in order to survive.”
Support for Businesses Ready to Adapt
To ensure Welsh food and drink businesses are equipped for the future, the Welsh Government is launching fully funded, one-to-one climate resilience training for leadership teams in 12 food and drink manufacturing businesses.
To express interest in taking part in this training, please email:
linda.grant@bic-innovation.com
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For those preferring flexible, self-directed learning, on-demand training modules will soon be available via the Food and Drink Wales website. These resources will include recorded module lessons, comprehensive learning materials, and practical workbooks to help businesses develop and implement climate-resilient strategies.
A Call to Action for Industry Leaders
As climate change continues to reshape markets, supply chains, and consumer expectations, the message from the Royal Welsh Show was clear: Welsh food and drink businesses must not only prepare — they must lead. By embracing sustainability and resilience now, the sector can secure a prosperous future in a warming world as well as play their part in decarbonising the sector.
“The session was incredibly valuable — not just for the practical insight it offered into sustainability, but also for the open and supportive environment it created for sharing challenges across the industry. I came away with a lot of food for thought and really appreciated the opportunity to take part.”
Kirstie Jones, Marketing Manager, South Caernarfon Creameries.
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Cywain is a Food & Drink Wales support programme delivered by Mentera and supported by the Welsh Government.
The Cywain Programme has a proud history of empowering food and drink entrepreneurs across Wales, helping them cultivate strong brands and achieve sustainable business growth. Cywain’s pan Wales team believes that innovation thrives when diverse perspectives come together. That's why they have been actively working to expand access to their invaluable support, intentionally reaching out to a broader range of voices within our vibrant communities across Wales.
Cywain’s recent collaborations exemplify this commitment. Partnering with The Centre for African Entrepreneurship (CAE), an organisation dedicated to empowering ethnically diverse communities to flourish in business across Wales, Cywain has successfully engaged a more diverse group of future growth businesses. As Alex James, Cywain Project Manager shared, “we worked hand-in-hand with the CAE to promote and engage a wider audience of entrepreneurs with the Cywain support programme. Our workshops in Swansea and Cardiff have been incredibly successful, and we're excited to bring them to Wrexham later in 2025.”
“Together with Cywain, the CAE is working to raise aspirations and provide support that reflects the different backgrounds and experiences of the food and drink entrepreneurs we serve. Our partnership is a clear example of how inclusive approaches strengthen the whole sector and create a richer entrepreneurial landscape in Wales.”
Kim Mamhende, CAE
Building on this momentum and following an impactful Blas Cymru / Taste Wales conference in 2024 that sparked vital conversations on diversity, Cywain, alongside Food and Drink Wales and the Food and Drink Industry Board, attended the UK Black Business Entrepreneurs Conference in London in June 2025. This significant event brought together black entrepreneurs from across the UK with policymakers, financial institutions, and business support organisations. Its core purpose resonated deeply with Cywain and Welsh Government: to inform, engage, and foster meaningful dialogue around the critical importance of diversity and inclusivity in business. The conference was a powerful source of knowledge and inspiration for all attendees. They were particularly proud to see Welsh food and drink businesses like Maggies African Twist, Goch & Co, and Mami Maggie’s Recipes among the contingent, showcasing the rich talent within our nation, supported by the Welsh Government.
"Sometimes stepping out of the familiar is exactly what we need- because in the unfamiliar we find new sparks of inspiration. The BBEC 2025, my second time attending, did not disappoint. It inspired, educated and encouraged. And the food? Oh, The Food!"
Maggie Ogunbanwo, Maggies African Twist
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Jonathan Smith talks about his background and why he joined the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board (FDWIB)
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I’m one of the newest members of the Board, following my appointment in July 2024.
For most of my career, I’ve worked with businesses supplying food and drink to the UK’s major supermarkets. I started with marketing roles at Rank Hovis McDougall (RHM). Their brands include Hovis, Mother’s Pride, Nimble, Bisto and Saxa. I then worked for St Ivel (then part of Unigate plc). I led their marketing and new product developments for cheese, butter, and milk powder. It was in this
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last role that I became more involved with the UK’s major multiple retailers. We worked together on category development and retailer-branded new product development.
In 1996 I launched Axis Management Consulting and have run this ever since. We provide consulting and consumer/shopper research services to a wide range of food and drink businesses.
Continue reading this article on the FDWIB website
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Andy Richardson, former Chair of the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board from 2016 until 2023, was recently awarded an MBE in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours list. This important accolade recognises Andy’s services to the Food and Drink sector. With over 30 years’ experience and a passion for the dairy industry and agri-food sectors, Andy’s skills and contribution are valued by the current Food Board, of which Andy is a serving member. Congratulations Andy!
Read Andy's Bio on the FDWIB website.
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At this year’s Royal Welsh Show, sustainability was a major talking point - and businesses with a Carbon Reduction Plan were firmly in the spotlight. The level of interest was a clear signal: the industry is ready to act, and now’s the time to build on that momentum.
A Carbon Reduction Plan isn’t just a formality - it’s a powerful statement about your business’s values and future direction. It shows customers and buyers that you’re serious about reducing your environmental impact and leading the way in responsible food and drink production.
With Blas Cymru / Taste Wales fast approaching, there’s no better time to get your Carbon Reduction Plan in place. Whether you’re just starting out or refining an existing strategy, support is available to help you take the next step.
Lead the change. Get your Carbon Reduction Plan in place and show the industry you mean business. For further information, contact one of the team at: SustainableFD@gov.wales
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The Sustainability Cluster has been working with its food & drink producers who have gained B Corp Certification to create a B Corp Brochure.
The brochure tells the story of Wales’ 11 B Corp certified food & drink producers, who are all showing their commitments to high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
With a vision to make Welsh food & drink the most sustainably produced in the world, the cluster celebrates those leading the way through this brochure.
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One of the elements of support available through the Sustainability Cluster is one-to-one B Corp support.
With the B Corp certification assessment set to undergo significant changes at the end of the year, the Sustainability Cluster strongly encourages Welsh food & drink businesses to begin their B Corp journey now, while the current standards remain in place.
To find out more, please email: Lauren.Smith@levercliff.co.uk
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Welsh innovators awarded funding to deliver practical, sustainable solutions that support farmers, boost productivity, and improve food production across Wales.
 Farmers, food producers, and rural communities across Wales are set to benefit from a new wave of innovation, as £600,000 in funding is awarded through the Agri-Food Technology SBRI Phase 2 Demonstration Challenge. This bold initiative is supporting cutting-edge solutions that aim to strengthen the agri-food supply chain, improve sustainability, and drive economic growth in the Welsh Agriculture and Food sector.
The challenge, funded by the Welsh Government in partnership with the SBRI Centre of Excellence at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, builds on the success of the previous phase, that supported 14 feasibility projects. Now, five of the most promising innovations have been selected for further investment and real-world demonstration – helping to accelerate their path to market and create tangible benefits for farms and food producers in Wales.
This work directly supports the Welsh Government’s action plan for agri-food tech, which places a strong emphasis on equipping both current and future agricultural professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to fully harness the potential of new technologies. The plan also aims to accelerate the development of home-grown Agri-Food Tech innovation, promote on-farm adoption to drive productivity and environmental efficiency, and deliver measurable environmental benefits that will help the sector transition to net zero.
The five businesses receiving SBRI contracts are:
- Yr Ardd Fadarch Eryri Cyf (Trading as Madarch Cymru) – Waste to Colour: Scalable Pigment Production from Spent Mushroom Substrate
- Iona Minerals Ltd – Capture of Ammonia from Livestock Housing and its Re-use as a Nitrogen rich Fertiliser
- Pennog Ltd – Nutrient Recovery for Agriculture
- Lano Tech Ltd – Commercialising Welsh Lanolin for Feed: From Concept to Market in a Circular Economy
- Mehapres Ltd – Eco Steam: Sustainable Heat for the Welsh Agri-Food Sector
Together, these innovations showcase the power of agri-food tech to support a more productive, environmentally resilient, and economically vibrant agri-food sector in Wales.
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 The next Food & Drink Business Roadshow, supported by the Welsh Government through the HELIX Programme, will take place in Pembrokeshire this September.
📍 The Pavilion, Pembrokeshire County Showground, Haverfordwest, SA62 4BW
📅 Wednesday 17 September 2025
🕙 10:00am–2:00pm
This free, drop-in event is open to food and drink businesses of all sizes – from start-ups to established manufacturers – as well as individuals thinking of entering the sector.
Attendees will have the opportunity to speak directly with a wide range of support providers, including:
- Food Centre Wales
- Pembrokeshire County Council
- Business Wales
- Cywain
- Food and Drink Skills Wales
- Farming Connect
- Landsker Business Solutions
The event aims to connect businesses with practical advice on funding, training, business development, product innovation and more – all in one place.
Visit the Food Centre Wales website for more information.
Or register directly using this form.
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