Calon Wen, a Welsh dairy farmers’ co-operative, has become the first European cheese supplier to have its products certified as organic by the Japanese government.

The Pembrokeshire-based group is made up of 25 organic family-run farms and has been exporting its dairy products to Japan with the help of the Mineichi Group since 2017.

Calon Wen has been expanding in Japan since September 2019 and its products are now stocked online and at around 100 locations. As well as supplying directly to retailers, Calon Wen products are also distributed to supermarkets and department stores by major Japanese dairy products traders Morinaga, Mitsubishi and Kokubu.

Stuart McNally, Calon Wen’s business development and sales manager, said the co-operative was able to connect with Japanese customers at the BlasCymru/TasteWales event in March 2019 and start planning how to venture into the market with them.

“However, since the summer of 2020, the Japanese authority revised the regulation regarding imported organic products and any products branded as ‘organic’ must now obtain Japan’s organic JAS certification, and label it with the certified JAS mark on the packaging,” he continued.

“A year later and with support from the Welsh Government’s Tokyo office, Calon Wen became the first European dairy brand to be JAS certified. JAS certified Calon Wen products have since secured many more listings at a tremendous speed.

“Our future plans include expanding stockists to over 120 stores in Japan within 2021, introducing new products of Calon Wen to strengthen the brand and introducing other Welsh brands and products in partnership, for example Tan y Castell Welsh Cakes and much more.”

Minister for rural affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths said: “Unlocking new markets brings even greater opportunities for Welsh food and drink businesses to not only showcase their first-class produce to the world, but also generate more revenue and increase profits. With Wales’ reputation and provenance, there is a strong platform for further growth.

“The UK withdrawal from the EU has required our producers to find new markets, often further afield. Calon Wen’s performance in Japan has shown Welsh companies’ can continue to be successful internationally and there is a range of support available.”