Pub group giving a warm Welsh 'Croeso'

A growing independent hospitality business, based in south east Wales, is reaping the rewards after successfully introducing a range of Welsh food and drink to its menus for the first time.

Cardiff-based Croeso Pubs operates 8 businesses within the city and the surrounding areas. These are the Philharmonic, The Dock, Retro, Brewhouse, The Blue Bell, Daffodil, The Discovery and the Bear’s Head.

Having decided to place a greater emphasis on Welsh produce at their establishments, they sought the support of the Welsh Government’s Food & Drink Wales Foodservice Programme. As a result, there has been an increase in the availability of Welsh products across their outlets, along with introducing ‘Proud to Serve Welsh’ marketing materials to further help illustrate their provenance.

This includes The Bear’s Head in Penarth, which they recently took over from JD Wetherspoon. Further underlying the value of Welsh produce to consumers, despite the business model being different to JD Wetherspoon’s in terms of pricing, the 11 Welsh producers and 21 different products that are available has resulted in sales being ahead of forecast, and the produce being well received by customers.

The Food & Drink Wales Foodservice Programme has been working with a range of pub chains, as it seeks to grow the industry and create jobs by securing contracts into Welsh and UK markets.

This includes working with large scale national operators such as Marston’s, Greene King, Punch Pubs, Valiant pubs, Compass Group and Bidfood, as well as Wales-based operators such as Croeso Pubs, The Welsh House, Blas ar Fwyd, Castell Howell and Harlech Foodservice.

Further information on Food & Drink Wales, and their Foodservice Programme, can be found at: gov.wales/foodanddrink