FOOD&DRINK FROM WALES
A TASTE OF WALES
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We all know Wales for lamb, laverbread and leeks; Welsh cakes, Bara Brith and of course, Caerphilly. But a varied landscape and industrious people have also given us the geographically anomalous yet undeniably good Welsh wine; innovative speciality coffee roasters, and even literal cowboys using beef trimmings to make gin.
With its 24 UK GI-accredited products, it has scope to grow its already respectable export list. In 2023, EU countries cumulatively bought £500m worth of Welsh food & drink, showing how widely its products are appreciated, but what about our patch – independent retail in the UK?
Wales has a lot of small businesses. In 2023, most food & drink companies (73%, according to the Welsh Government) employed fewer than 10 people, and this is reflected in how producers trade – with a strong lean towards direct sales and independents. There is clearly a symbiotic relationship between the nation’s small producers and independent retailers.
Support from the Welsh Government has been instrumental to the sector’s flourishing, too. It helps businesses with everything from navigating changing regulatory standards to accessing investment and training, and supporting new product development. The proof is in the pudding here: in 2023, the sector grew by 10% year-on-year.
This isn’t me launching into a political tirade (though I suppose it is a bit), but it shows that with the right support, the sector can thrive. It can be an economic asset and a source of pride.
I hope this supplement shows you how much my country of birth (with a name like Tanwen, how could it not be) has to offer – and maybe even inspires you to include a bit of Cymru on your shelves.
WALES’ FOOD & DRINK industry
represents a vibrant cornerstone of the nation’s cultural heritage and economic landscape, distinguished by its remarkable blend of tradition and innovation. The sector’s unique identity stems from its diverse portfolio of artisan products - from award-winning cheeses and meats to craft beverages and baked goods – many of which reflect the country’s exceptional natural resources and agricultural heritage. This distinctiveness is reinforced through impressive successes annually in the Great Taste Awards, which in 2024, included prestigious three-star ratings for products like Black Mountain Smokery’s Smoked Duck Breast and Dà Mhìle Distillery’s Absinthe.
The industry has evolved significantly, transforming from primarily agricultural production to a sophisticated sector emphasising valueadded manufacturing and processing.
The Welsh Government’s strategic vision has catalysed this development, helping the sector helping the sector exceed its £8.5 billion turnover target two years early, achieving £9.3 billion by 2023. This growth reflects the industry’s resilience and adaptability despite facing numerous challenges in the global marketplace.
The support from Welsh Government has been comprehensive through multiple initiatives: Food Innovation Wales provides technical expertise and product development assistance through three centres of excellence; the Clusters for Success programme fosters collaboration across subsectors; Project Helix has assisted over 700 enterprises, sustaining 3,647 jobs and creating 683 new jobs with a financial impact exceeding £355 million. Additionally, Skills for Success addresses workforce development needs critical for continued sector growth.
Looking ahead, the industry is poised for further expansion through several strategic directions: enhancing sustainability credentials in line with the Agriculture (Wales) Act 2023; advancing innovative production methods like controlled environment agriculture; expanding further into new domestic and export markets through the Trade Development and export programmes; and strengthening Wales’ reputation for premium quality and provenance through geographical indications. The Government’s commitment to creating one of the most environmentally and socially responsible supply chains in the world positions Wales’ food and drink industry for continued growth while addressing contemporary challenges of sustainability and food security.
SOUTH EAST WALES
NORTH WALES
Tanwen
Dawn-Hiscox, Deputy editor
Blas mru Taste Wales
Discover a nation of food and drink innovators
22 & 23 October | 2025
International Convention Centre Wales, Celtic Manor, Newport, South Wales
Join us for the signature event of the Welsh food and drink industry, bringing together producers, suppliers, buyers, and food industry professionals from across the world.
The Welsh Government’s Food & Drink Wales team have designed Blas Cymru / Taste Wales for professional buyers from retail, foodservice, hospitality, along with developers and chefs.
Key event highlights include:
• Meet an industry under one roof – participation from SALSA and BRCGS accredited companies
• Focus on innovation, with 200 new product ranges
• 3,000 product showcase with buyers able to browse independently
• Time e icient – diary system to arrange short introductory meetings
• Access expert knowledge from Food & Drink Wales to help identify suitable suppliers
• Rising Star Marketplace – connect with up and coming suppliers
For further information or to register to attend:
gov.wales/foodanddrinkwales
f FoodDrinkWales @FoodDrinkWales Food_Drink_Wales
l Bwyd a Diod Cymru | Food and Drink Wales
Designed for professional buyers by the Welsh Government
Pride in its place
Wales is home to a grand total of 24 UK GI products. While it’s a testament to the quality of food & drink, these products also convey the pride of this nation and its close bond with the land itself.
By Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox
Innovation and creativity are laudable traits in food & drink production, adding a sense of character to the items we consume.
But often what gives food & drink meaning is its provenance – and the method by which it is made, refined and passed down through generations.
Wales certainly has a wealth of traditions worth preserving. The devolved nation now has 24 UK Geographical Indicationaccredited products – a scheme introduced in the wake of Brexit, replacing the EU’s geographic indications [see box-out]. But far from a walk in the park, producers choose this route because it allows them to tell the world what they already know.
“From our point of view,” says Pete Cameron, co-founder of Dyfi Distillery, whose gin was one of three Welsh UK GI products officially accredited last month, “it was really an embodiment of what
we’ve always done, which is to try and make something which holds a mirror to its landscape”.
His product, Pollination Gin – a Dovey Native Botanical Gin – is among four the distillery makes, but the only one that qualifies for UK GI status, because, Cameron says, “if we moved one valley away, we’d be making something very different.
“There are 28 botanical components in it and the majority of those are foraged, indigenous and local.”
For Cameron, the idea of reflecting the place where his gin is made speaks to culture and pride in origin, but also to its quality. “It can be very easy to just put farm influence in something and plant anything,” he says, “but what we’re really trying to do is reflect what those poets and painters have been doing in our valley for generations, showing the quality of what’s there.”
Those high standards are at the heart of the GI scheme, which, he says, “encompasses method of production as well, so we’re really putting in a more stringent demand than is normally within the gin category itself.
“This is the first UK GI for gin, so it’s probably going to stimulate some conversations, but in a way it helps differentiate between what is a very delicious regular London dry gin from what we’re doing, which is much more provenance-based.”
Over in Pembrokeshire in the South West of Wales, Jake Davies, the founder of Atlantic Edge Oysters has similar feelings about how flavour and the local environment – known by the French and wine enthusiasts as terroir – are intrinsically linked.
“Where they’re grown, they take on
Black Welsh Lamb
www.blackwelshlamb.com baa@blackwelshlamb.com
Farmhouse 01873 821387 Mobile 07720 039936
Icer-Chill
the flavour of the environment,” he says. “We’ve got the Atlantic washing in twice a day, bringing water and plenty of food, and then the fresh water coming down from the Preseli Mountains, through salt marsh, seagrass beds – and that really has an impact on the flavour of the oyster.”
He describes two distinct profiles: “The native’s quite heavy on the mineral notes, but the rock oysters are quite floral, very fresh and clean, with cucumber notes, seagrass and grassy tones. The environment really makes a massive difference.”
Getting recognition for these characteristics wasn’t easy, or quick. “It was probably three to four years from the first talkings of it, bordering on five, from the very first emails,” Davies says.
Patience was also required to gain a protected status for Welsh Heather Honey, as Haf Wyn Hughes, who leads the Welsh Honey Cluster, explains: “About seven years ago, we decided that we need an accreditation for their product, and decided that Heather Honey was the one that we wanted recognition for.”
“It’s such a unique product in Wales, and it’s so weather dependent, so there’s a lot going on with actual husbandry of the bees,” lending it unique characteristics.
The collaborative effort wasn’t easy either – there being 19 producers in the group – but Hughes says it was worthwhile. “This is fantastic for the sector in Wales, which is small, and it obviously protects the beekeepers, the bees, and the consumer, who knows now that they're buying an authentic product.”
Guiding many of these applications
Welsh UK GI products
– the full list
• Welsh Lamb (PGI)
• Welsh Beef (PGI)
• Traditionally Reared Pedigree Welsh Pork (TSG)
• Carmarthen Ham (PGI)
• West Wales Coracle Caught Sewin (PGI)
• West Wales Coracle Caught Salmon (PGI)
• Gower Salt Marsh Lamb (PDO)
• Traditional Welsh Cider (PGI)
• Traditional Welsh Caerphilly (PGI)
• Welsh Regional Wine (PGI) and Welsh Wine (PDO)
• Welsh Laverbread (PDO)
• The Vale of Clwyd Denbigh Plum (PDO)
• Pembrokeshire Earlies (PGI)
• Traditional Welsh Perry (PGI)
• Cambrian Mountains Lamb (PGI)
• Anglesey Sea Salt (Halen Môn) (PDO)
• Conwy Mussels (PDO)
• Welsh Leeks (PGI)
• Single Malt Welsh Whisky (PGI)
• Welsh Heather Honey (PGI)
• Dovey Native Botanical Gin (PGI)
• Pembrokeshire Native Oysters (PGI)
• Pembrokeshire Rock Oysters (PGI)
is Fay Francis of Provenance and GI Consultancy, who helps to deliver Welsh GI contracts for Mentera. “Every application is the producer’s – they own it – but it’s about offering some help to keep the momentum going, because it’s quite a long process,” she explains.
Asked what makes something qualify to apply for PGI status, she says: “It is a unique product in itself, with distinct characteristics, but also from that particular area, whatever the designated area is.”
At any given time, she adds, “I’ve probably got about four or five that are at various stages, and then we’ve got other applications that we’ve gone quite a long way until the final draft, but then for one reason or another it hasn’t been the right time.”
While many producers originally set out to protect their product identity with theses statuses, there’s been a shift in recent years, Francis says.
“Historically, it was the Champagne producers – because initially it was an EU Scheme. Legal protection of the name was the driving force for producers, whereas now, yes, that’s important, but it’s also the fact that provenance as a USP, and as a marketing tool, is also really relevant.”
Since Brexit, GI recognition has been retained and expanded in Wales. “Any product that was protected under EU GI status, when we left Europe, automatically got complete GI status, and then, we’ve had seven new ones. Gower Salt Marsh Lamb was the first one,” she says.
And should UK GI producers wish – namely, to increase their chances of exporting – “they can either stay at the UK GI status, or use that as a stepping stone to apply for EU GI status.”
Legal protection is still an obvious draw for producers. “Trading Standards are the people to look to, if there are grounds to highlight a case. It does offer that security.”
But for Davies, GI status speaks to something deeper. “It’s recognition of the quality that the site produces, the historic element. Oysters were first found there by the Romans, who preserved them and exported them to Italy, so it just brings it all together. This is a great area for producing oysters.”
For Hughes, the honey cluster’s success is a milestone for all honey producers. “We’re the same as the gin – the Welsh Heather Honey is the first to get the PGI in the UK.” It proves that small-scale, highquality producers can work collectively for shared recognition if they want to.
There’s commercial value in the status too, because it attributes worth to a place and a method of production. As Cameron puts it: “It tells customers what you do, so you don’t have to.”
And for retailers, that’s the point: GI products are inherently linked to provenance and credibility, both of which give independent food & drink retail an edge.
PGI, PDO and TSG de ned
PDO
To have Protected Designation of Origin means the product is produced, processed and prepared in a specific designated area.
PGI
Protected Geographical Indication stipulates that at least one stage of production takes place in the area.
TSG
The traditional Speciality Guaranteed label highlights an item’s traditional character, but doesn’t link it to a specific place.
South East Wales
Home to Cardiff, this region also includes Newport, the Valleys, and the Vale – and with that geographical diversity comes a wealth of food & drink producers.
Grounds For Good has launched an apéritif made with sweet tangerine, bitter orange, rhubarb, gentian, rosemary and upcycled coffee grounds. APEROFFI, which comes in a recycled cardboard bottle, clocks in at 11% ABV, and is said to be a great base for a Spritz. The company specialises in repurposing waste coffee and also produces award-winning vodka, dark chocolate and rapeseed oil. RRP £25 (70cl), sold in cases of six. groundsforgood.co.uk
Brooke’s Wye Valley Dairy best known for its Jersey milk ice cream, with flavours such as Rum & Raisin and Just Ginger winning awards, supplied in grab & go pots, retail pots and catering/ scooping formats. More recently, the Monmouthshire producer has moved into cheesemaking and its mould ripened soft cheese, Angiddy has so far won Gold at the World Cheese Awards and a Bronze at the British Cheese Awards. It also makes Fedw and Blue Wennalt. brookesdairy.com
Draigwen Honey specialises in artisan, single-batch runny honey. Each jar of this unadulterated, raw honey can be traced back from the table to the farm. It is supplied in 80oz jars (trade £4.50 per jar, cases of 35 units) and 15lb buckets (£5 per lb). facebook.com/draigwen.honey/
Scout Coffee believes great coffee should do more than taste good. Its house espresso, Basecamp, embodies that ethos. As well as offering up notes of dark chocolate, caramel and almond, it is produced with ethically sourced beans, roasted with low-impact roasting, and a tree is planted with every order via Switch2zero. £11.00 per 250g scoutcoffee.co.uk
Nonna Assunta Liqueurs is a South Wales start-up producing Limoncello, Arancello and Limecello to its founders’ Italian grandmother’s recipe. Unlike equivalent products, no oils or essences are used – just carefully selected, handpeeled fruits.
A selection of pre-mixed cans, starting with a Limoncello Spritz, is currently in the works for launch next year. nonnaassuntaliqueurs.co.uk
Gut-friendly drinks by Absorb Water Kefirs are flavoured and naturally sparkling, made using live probiotic cultures and organic fruit, flowers and herbs. It recently refreshed its range, which now includes Ginger & Lemon, Blackcurrant & Hibiscus, Lavender, Lime & Mint as well as the Original, unflavoured kefir. Sold in 330ml and 750ml bottles in cases of six (WSP per case, £10.74 and £22.74, respectively, up to £3.50 and £6.99 RRP). absorbhealth.org
All of The Crafty Pickle’s sauerkrauts and kimchis are naturally fermented and full of live cultures. Its bestsellers are Crafty Kimchi and Radical Red Kraut, but the range also includes a traditional Kraut flavoured with caraway & garlic, the spicier Katz KimchiKraut and the jalapeno & lime Mexicana Kraut. Supplied in cases of 6x350g jars (trade £30.90-£33) and 1kg catering tubs (£12.90£13.60).
thecraftypickle.co.uk
SOUTH EAST WALES
Dirwest is a new brand of non-alcoholic drinks that is billed as a modern celebration of Wales’s heritage and culture.
Its Botanical Spirit is a gin-style non-alcoholic drink in a 70cl bottle (trade £16, RRP £28), with notes of juniper, Seville orange and black peppercorn.
Its IPA, “Yma o Hyd”, is a hoppy craft non-alcoholic beer with a tropical hint of flavour. It comes in cases of 12x330ml (trade price £20, RRP £2.90 per can).
Both drinks are gluten-free, vegan and low calorie. dirwest.cymru
Bossa Nova Chocolate has channelled the vibrant spirit of Brazil with its range of handcrafted, gluten-free truffles. Inspired by traditional "brigadeiros", these truffles are made in small batches using Fairtradecertified chocolate, all-natural ingredients, and no preservatives. The core collection includes the Classic Selection (milk, dark and white chocolate truffles with rich ganache centres) a Vegan Dark Selection and Flavoured Truffles, including Passionfruit, Coffee, and Pistachios. Trade prices start at £11.28, with 6-, 9- and 25-truffle packs available. bossanovachocolate.co.uk
Cheesemonger
Tŷ Caws has recently begun producing the first batches of Hiraeth – a seasonal briestyle cheese made with ewes’ milk from Gareth & Nia Daniel’s small flock in Machynlleth. Production has been outsourced to Trefaldwyn Cheese to ensure that volume can be scaled up to satisfy wholesale orders. tycaws.com
Barry Island Spirits Co makes a range of gins, rums and vodka to its own unique recipes at its premises on the famous island in the Vale of Glamorgan. Barry Island Gin, Pink Dry Gin and Botanical Spiced Rum are all Great Taste 1-star winners, while its Welsh Dry Gin and Barry Island Vodka both picked up 2-star awards in Great Taste 2024. barryislandspirits. co.uk
Set up on a converted dairy farm, White Castle Vineyard was first planted in 2009 and saw its first successful harvest in September 2011. It has now grown to an estate of 13,500 vines.
Until recently its grapes were being processed at Three Choirs Winery Newent but White Castle now has its own on-site winery where it produced the 2024 vintage of its wines – which are all included under the Welsh Wine PDO. The range includes Sparkling White, still White, Red and a fortified wine called 1581, after the date on the oak trusses found in one of the barns on the farm.
whitecastlevineyard.com
One of Wales’ most popular spirits, the Single Malt Welsh Whisky, is now o cially protected as it has secured PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) UK GI status. This means that Penderyn, In the Welsh Wind, Dà Mhìle, Aber Falls and Coles distilleries are protected.
This was the rst new UK spirit to achieve GI status since the UK GI scheme was launched, also making it Wales’s rst GI spirit.
Penderyn Distillery is possibly the most famous producer of Single Malt Welsh Whisky (PGI). It produces award-winning single malts from three distilleries: its HQ in Brecon Beacons, in Llandudno (opened May 2021) and a third in Swansea Copperworks (founded in June 2023).
Usk Valley Cheese Company specialises in semi-hard cheeses with a nod to local history.
Chartists’ Heritage is a classic, full-flavored semi-hard cheese that celebrates Newport’s proud history of the Chartist movement. Meanwhile the rich and savoury garlic- and herbinfused Six Peaks is named after the highest points of the Brecon Beacons. Completing the trio is the aromatic and earthy Roman Gold, infused with saffron, which pays homage to the Usk Valley’s ancient Roman history.
All cheeses can be purchased as 4kg wheels, 2kg half-wheels, 1kg quarter-wheels or 200g individually wrapped wedges.
Can
mature
I
my
hard cheeses on wooden shelves?
How can I prove that I have not exceeded a given use-by date when the outer packaging has been discarded? Can I cut cheese and meats with the same equipment? Do I have to mature or ripen cheese under refrigerated conditions?
Developed by the Guild of Fine Food and food experts at Cornwall Council, the Deli Retailing Code of Practice is split into three main sections – Food Safety Essentials, Good Hygiene Practices and Trading Standards – the Code is intended as a one-stop reference guide for deli teams, providing the guidance to ensure that both compliance and best practice standards can be achieved in all areas of retail.
The Deli Retailing Code of Practice is available in PDF for members to download from MyGuild. The Code is free to Guild of Fine Food members and can be purchased by non-members for £250+VAT by emailing support@g .co.uk
South West Wales
Carmarthen Ham is the only British cured ham with a PGI Status. Made by Carmarthen Deli, each air-dried, bonein ham weighs in at 4-5kg and takes 6-9months to mature. It is sold in sliced pages of 60g and 125g.
This region – encompassing the counties of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot – o ers up a heady mix of deeply traditional produce and more innovative modern products
Having started with just two hives in a relative’s garden, over the last 15 years Gwenyn Gruffydd has grown into a succesful honey and beekeeping company, managing 400 hives across three counties – with locations including the Ceredigion coast and the Tywi Valley. Its Welsh Wildflower Honey won a 3-star award in Great Taste 2024 and comes in a variety of formats, including 340g and 227g jars (trade £6.09 and £4.98 respectively), 1kg and 3kg catering tubs, and 28g mini jars for hospitality. Other products include Welsh Wildflower Honeycomb and Welsh Heather Honey. gwenyngruffydd.co.uk
Only ham that has been produced in a speci ed area around the market town of Carmarthen can be sold as Carmarthen Ham. carmarthendeli.co.uk
MamGu offers up a variety of ways to enjoy Welsh Cakes (they’re a bit like a sweet flat scone or pancake, for the uninitiated). The producer sells its take on the Traditional cake in packs of six cakes (RRP £5.70 each, trade cases of 10 packs cost £34), as well as minis and regular size two-packs. It also sells ready-to-cake Welsh Cake Dough (RRP £12 each, trade cases of 5 units cost £32.50). There is also a limited edition run of Dark Chocolate & Raspberry Welsh Cakes currently available. mamguwelshcakes.com
Among Good Carma’s range of vegan and dairy-free alternatives is the award-winning Spread Sensation. The Carmarthenshire producer says this fermented cashew cheese can be used exactly like a traditional spreadable cheese –served on crackers, for topping jacket potatoes, or stirred through pasta. As well as the original version, Spread Sensation also comes in Garlic & Chive and Chilli varieties. goodcarmafoods.com
Launched in spring 2025, Corazeo is a new wellness drink that is formulated scientifically with effective doses of KSM-66 Ashwagandha, Lion’s Mane, Maca, Magnesium, and Hyaluronic Acid - a potent combination known for its wellbeing benefits. Designed for the modern, health-conscious consumer, the Blueberry & Mint, Lime & Gooseberry and Ginger & Peach flavours are all made with zero added sugar, free from gluten, vegan friendly and come in at 48 calories per 250ml can (trade £1.74, RRP £2.49).
corazeo.com
Among its range of small-batch beers, liqueurs and wines, is Crefftau Meigan Fach’s My Hashtag Wine range. The red (#Coch), white (#Gwyn), rosé (#Pinc), and seasonal favourites like #Gaeaf (spiced winter wine) and orchard blends, all come in 750ml bottles (RRP £16.50-£18.00, trade £10+VAT). The producer also offers premium bespoke wines for hospitality, with personalised labels and trade-exclusive small-batch production. crefftaumeiganfach.co.uk
Since the 1970s, Pu n Produce has supplied Welsh potatoes and seasonal vegetables to retailers and wholesalers. It o ers potatoes both under own label and the Blas y Tir brand. Among Pu n’s range are two products with Protected Geographical Status (PGI).
Its famous Pembrokeshire Early Potatoes are renowned for their so aky skins, creamy texture and rich, nutty taste, while its Welsh Leeks are considered to be a national symbol of the country. pu nproduce.com
The Coles Brewery and Distillery in Llanddarog, Camarthenshire makes spirits “from grain to grass”, distilling molasses for rum, malted barley for whiskey and wheat for vodka and gin. The brewery has been operational since 1999, producing everything from stout and lager to ales, some flavoured with nettles, and beetroot. But that’s not all: the Coles family also makes ciders using apples from its orchard, ranging from dry through medium, sweet and fruit flavoured. coles.wales
The lush valley of the river Cych is home to Caws Cenarth, one of Wales’ most renowned cheesemakers. Set up in 1987, the business draws on a six-generation family tradition of cheesemaking, with Carwyn Adams currently at the helm. As well as being the longest established producer of Welsh Farmhouse Caerffili (also known as Caerphilly), Caws Cenarth also makes a number of originals including the brie-like Perl Wen, the creamy blue Perl Las and Golden Cenarth, a washed-rind cheese that is a previous winner of the Supreme Champion accolade at the British Cheese Awards. cawscenarth.co.uk
Decadent
North Wales
North Wales’ counties – Anglesey (or Ynys Môn), Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire and Flintshire and Wrexham – offer a broad selection of products, drawing on what the land has to offer, but also the skill people have in transforming that bounty.
Second-generation producer and wholesaler Welsh Speciality Foods makes a broad range of long-life goods, from marmalades and conserves to honeys, chutneys, savoury jellies and sauces. Over the years the producer's efforts have been validated by many Great Taste and Dalemain Marmalade Awards – most recently for its Welsh Honey Marmalade, Sweet Mint Jelly and hot Horseradish Sauce. With no shortage of options, from Apple Chutney to Scotch Bonnet Jam, it aims to cover most bases. wsf.uk
Caernafon’s Coffi Dre sources beans from Colombia, Mexico, Kenya, India and Nicaragua – roasted to cater to a variety of brewing styles and tastes. Its signature roast, Porth Yr Aur, is a single-origin Colombian blend of Castillo and Caturra beans, grown at high altitude and offering chocolate, red fruit and citrus notes. 250g bags feature artworks by local Welsh artists. WSP £6.25-£7.50 (£8.75-£9.50 RRP). The seasonal blends are gaining traction with independent retailers across Wales. coffidre.cymru
In a novel expression of the nose-to-tail ethos, meat producer Snowdonia Wagyu ships its Welsh Wagyu fat, bones and trimmings to a distillery 15 miles away from the farm to make Wagyu Rum. The small-batch dark rum is said to be rich, savoury, with umami notes and a warming finish. Sold in 5cl, 20cl and 70cl bottles (£39.95 RRP). Curious retailers should move swiftly due to limited batch availability.
snowdoniawagyu.co.uk
Mêl Lyn’s Welsh Wildflower Honey is pure, raw and unpasteurised, harvested from the Llyn Peninsula in North Wales. The producer says it captures the region’s singular flora and has a rich, floral taste and smooth texture. RRP is £8.99. Meanwhile the producer’s Welsh Heather Honey – now PGI-accredited – is sourced from the microclimate of the Llyn Peninsula – and is said to have a robust, rich flavour and natural crystallisation. Seasonal varieties include Spring, Summer and Autumn. RRP £12.99. The producer says it focuses on low-intervention methods and sustainability when making its honeys. mel-llyn.co.uk
Indie staple Snowdonia Cheese Co. offers a range of 11 cheeses – plain and flavoured Cheddar and Red Leicester – as well as crackers, chutneys and cheese bakes. As well as the classic Black Bomber truckle (RRP £5 per 200g), the producer’s bestsellers include Wholemeal & Extra Virgin Olive Oil Crackers (RRP £3.50) and Rock Star Cheese & Wine Bake (RRP £6). Despite the brand's popularity, everything is made in small batches and aims to reflect the landscape and character of North Wales. snowdoniacheese.co.uk
Halen Môn Sea Salt has become known for its quality, and, over the years, the PDO and Soil Associationapproved salt has been supplemented by avoured salts, condiments and everything from Gherkin Relish to Black Garlic Ketchup. A new, limited-edition jar – which comes with a wooden spoon and contains 100g of salt – features an illustration of Ynys Llanddwyn. RRP £19.30, WSP £9.83. halenmon.com
Snowdonia Spiritis Co makes a range of four small-batch gins – a Signature Welsh Dry, which leads the range; the more niche Bara Brith Gin, which has notes of the iconic Welsh fruitcake’s rich fruit and spices; a Lemon Gin, and a raspberry and wild berry gin. Bottles come in 5cl and 70cl (£36 RRP for the 70cl, £21 to trade, sold in cases of six), as well as in miniature sets of three. Stockists include Blas ar Fwyd and Master of Malt. snowdoniagin.com
Conwy Kombucha’s Blighty Booch range of organic fermented tea is brewed the traditional way, in small batches. The five flavours are Original, Nettle & Rosehip, Bramley Elderflower, Cherry and Ginger – which, back in 2020, was awarded 3-stars in Great Taste. RRP £3.50 per 330ml bottle, WSP £1.95. The kombucha is unpasteurised, vegan and full of live cultures. Wholesalers include CLF and Blas ar Fwyd. blightybooch.com
NORTH WALES
Coffee roaster Tired Mums’ name tells the story of the two founders, two NHS workers who set up the company to support fellow sleepy, busy parents. The range of three blends – Party All Night, Nobody’s Listening to Me and Are You Sure It’s Decaf provides a coffee for every time of the day. 1% of the company’s sales are donated to charities such as Thriving Families and The Parenting Collective. tiredmumscoffee.co.uk
Holyhead coast native Cuffed in Coffee’s artisan coffee business started off as a café – of which there are now two – with founder Kristian Cuffin later investing in a roastery to supply restaurants and cafés and introduce a retail range. The two-star Great Taste House Blend combines beans from Brazil, Colombia and Vietnam, which are medium roasted for a balanced cup with notes of chocolate, nuts and treacle. Available in 250g and 1kg bags. RRP £7.50 and £22.50. cuffedincoffee.com
South Caernafon Creameries is Wales’ oldest dairy farmer cooperative, whose cheeses include 40 varieties and pack styles of Welsh Cheddar, and a range of British territorial cheeses. These are available in retail and wholesale formats, in blocks, sliced and grated. The producer says its traditional Welsh salted butter is made with high quality milk, a consequence of Wales’ lush green pastures the cows feed on, and significant rainfall.
The producer has recently invested in a a new whey processing facility, cheese production lines and a new portioning line, which will allow it to increase both its production and packing capabilities. sccwales.co.uk
• Chilled & Frozen Groupage Distribution
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• Multi-Temperature Warehousing
• Storage & Order Picking
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• Blast Freezing & Tempering
• Customs Agency
• Customs Warehousing
We are a small producer of artisan preserves - jams, chutneys, and soon mustards
All batches are small and made by hand here on the Gower, using quality ingredients and sourced locally whenever possible No added colour or arti cial avours, just honest to goodness natural taste - based on the glorious Gower Peninsula in South Wales Contact; Nicola Harris 07966 182 070 gowerpreserves@gmail.com
Delicious Cradoc’s Crackers Celebrates Wales Food and Drink info@cradocs.co.uk
RETAIL CHEESE
TRAINING LEARN | TASTE | UNDERSTAND | COMMUNICATE
Our one-day course for anyone sourcing or selling cheese, delivered by industry and retail experts. Understand how cheese is made, how it should be stored and sold, gain skills to help communicate with customers and sell more cheese from a position of knowledge.
Dovey Native Botanical Gin (PGI), Welsh Heather Honey (PGI) and Pembrokeshire Native Oysters and Rock Oysters (PGI) are the latest to join the impressive list of Welsh Geographical Indication (GI) products. Learn more about the growing list, and an industry defined by quality, provenance and tradition.
Mid Wales
Taking in Ceredigion and Powys, this region has something for everyone.
Pantri Swswen is riding high having recently won a coveted Gold at the World’s Original Marmalade Artisan Awards for its Ruby Grapefruit & Welsh Honey Marmalade (made with PGI Welsh Heather Honey). Its Welsh Blackcurrant Conserve is another award-winning product in a roster of preserves that always feature a prominent Welsh ingredient. All products are available in 155g and 330g jars (trade £3.10 and £4.25 respectively), as well as gift packs and catering formats.
pantriswswen.co.uk
Cradocs Savoury Biscuits specialises in crackers, which it says are perfect for dipping, dunking, topping, loading and “shuttling deli treats to their final destination”. Through its ranges it offers four different eating experiences. The Butterflies range features neutral flavours to pair with cheese while the Big Veg line-up is designed for snacking. There are also Gluten Free and Asian Flavours ranges. Trade £1.72, RRP £3.95£4.30 per unit, except Gluten Free (trade £1.87, RRP £4.80) cradocssavourybiscuits. co.uk
which and ranges
Founded in 1982, Caws Teifi Cheese is best-known for its Gouda-style cheeses made to a 500-year-old Dutch recipe. Teifi Cheese is available in a number of different maturities and there are also flavour-added variations including Chilli, Seaweed and Cumin. The producer also makes the washed rind Celtic Promise and Saval, as well as Traditional Farmhouse Caerphilly.
The cheesemaker’s base, Glynhynod Farm, is also home to a sister business Dá Mhíle Distillery – which has won a number of awards for its spirits range of gin, whisky and absinthe. teificheese.co.uk
Cascave claims that it isn’t just making gin, it is capturing the very essence of the Brecon Beacons. Founded in 2022, this female-led distillery uses native botanicals and mineralrich water that stems from deep within Dan Yr Ogof Cave. Its Great Taste 1-star Cave Aged (trade £32) Premium Dry (trade £27) and Stormy Gin (trade £25) all come in 70cl bottles. cascavegin.co.uk
The latest launch from Radnor Preserves is a bespoke limited edition gift set that celebrates the landscapes of its home in Cambrian Mountains. The set includes Dark Skies Preserve, a stellar chuckleberry extra jam that is ideal on hot buttered crumpets or Welsh cakes, as well as HandCut Pumlumon Marmalade (named after the area’s highest peak) infused with wild mountain gorse flowers. Devilish Relish, a tempting mango chutney named after the landmark Devil’s Bridge and waterfalls, completes the line-up. radnorpreserves.com
