Designed to grow, promote and enhance the reputation of the Welsh food and drink sector, the board engages with businesses throughout the country and Welsh Government.
The six appointments include board chair Professor David Lloyd, deputy chair Alison Lea-Wilson, Alison Harvey, Andy Richardson, Graham Black and Valerie Creusailor.
Lloyd is the director of the ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Metropolitan University, and Lea-Wilson is the joint owner of The Anglesey Sea Salt Co. Meanwhile, Harvey works as an agri supply chain advisor at Rural Advisor, Richardson is a partner at European Food and Farming Partnerships (EFFP), Black is non-executive director at Seafish and Creusailor is chief executive and co-founder of Goch and Company.
Rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths said that the members of the industry board all offer “a wealth of experience, expertise and passion”.
“Welsh food and drink continues to go from strength to strength with exports for the sector reaching £797 million in 2022, a record high,” she added.
“I look forward to working with [the new members] as they build on the important work the board does to ensure a thriving future for the food and drink industry here in Wales.”
Lloyd described being elected char as a “great honour” at what is a “crucial time for the sector in Wales”.
“I would like to welcome the newly elected members to the Board who are all keen to use the breadth of their experience, knowledge and skills to promote Welsh food and drink and develop local, national and international market opportunities,” continued Lloyd.
“All members of the Board look forward to working alongside the Welsh Government whilst enhancing existing partnerships with industrial partners and forging new relationships with other members of the food chain to help further develop our sector.”
Lea-Wilson added: “Given the challenges we face it is even more important to work together as a sector, taking full advantage of the support offered by the Welsh Government to grow our industry in a sustainable way.
“Wales has more than its fair share of great food and drink and we will work collaboratively to ensure its place is recognised in the world.”
In other news, Food Manufacture spoke to the rural affairs minister about the Welsh food and drink industry.