The Food and Drink Wales Retail Plan aims to see the turnover value for the food and drink industry in Wales grow proportionally more than the UK collectively.

Launched by the Welsh Government, the plan is centred on eight key objectives including creating a stream of new entrepreneurial food and drink businesses and accelerate the growth of companies with a turnover of more than £10 million in the retail sector.

The plan will support Welsh companies to aspire to a UK level of distribution and help build closer working relationships across supply chains and retailers.

The Welsh Government hopes that the plan will be key in nurturing the next generation of companies to access new market routes and help them respond to new demands from consumers.

Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths said: “We have fantastic food and drink producers here in Wales and I am committed to helping them see their products enjoyed by more people, not only here in Wales, but across the UK.”

Griffiths thanked the Retail Expert Group for their work in helping to create the strategy and stated that the government has “a real opportunity, through this new plan, to help Welsh food and drink businesses reach new and potentially game changing markets.”

In October, Welsh food and drink businesses will have the opportunity to showcase their products at Wales’s largest international food and drink event, BlasCymru/TasteWales.

Organised by Food and Drink Wales, the Welsh Government’s Food Division, Blas Cymru is a national and international trade event and conference, providing an opportunity for buyers and producers to develop new business. 

BlasCymru/TasteWales 2021 will be held at the International Convention Centre (ICC Wales), The Celtic Manor Resort, Newport from the 27th to 28th October 2021. It is a two-day event and will allow food buyers and industry professionals to meet with leading Welsh food and drink businesses. 

Chair of Food and Drink Wales Industry Board (FDWIB), Andy Richardson said: “Welsh food and drink has a tremendous opportunity to develop sales across retailers both in Wales and the UK. I genuinely believe consumers value the quality, sustainability and provenance of Welsh food and drink which, when combined with some excellent point of sale branding, should lead to good growth in this sector in the coming years.”