More than 100 firms from across Wales – which included 21 established during the Covid-19 pandemic – attended last year’s event to showcase the latest developments and innovations in Welsh food and drink.
In total, 1,695 Covid-secure meetings took place as part of the ‘Meet the Buyer’ brokerage between trade buyers and Welsh food and drink businesses, including virtual discussions.
Welsh pride
Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths said: “I am extremely proud of the food and drink businesses we have in Wales, who year-on-year develop and showcase new, exciting and innovative products.
“BlasCymru is our signature international event to promote the food and drink industry in Wales and although the event in October was different due to the impacts of Covid, I am pleased it has already helped businesses secure an estimated £14m in new or potential deals.”
The event also saw the launch of a new Export Advisory Group, to help further develop exports for the food and drink industry in Wales.
Vision for Welsh food
It supports the Welsh Government’s ‘A Vision for the Food & Drink industry from 2021’ – a group of objectives laid out by the Government in November last year, with a focus on leveraging the sectors “global reputation for excellence”.
News of the successful deals brokered at Taste Wales 2021 followed reports that Welsh meat sales had risen above pre-pandemic levels.
Data supplied by Kantar revealed that lamb sales were up 2.4% in 2021 compared to 2019, with leg roasting joints the most popular cut among consumers at Christmas.
Meanwhile, Discount retailer Aldi has invested an extra £1.6bn with British suppliers since the start of the COIVD-19 pandemic as part of its commitment to locally grown produce.