September 09, 2019 - 1383 views
Food and drink lovers from across North Wales flocked to a local college where some of the region's finest food and drink were showcased at an event designed to boost the local tourism industry and champion Welsh food and drink.
Coleg Llandrillo hosted the 'Meet the Producer' experience at its Rhos-on-Sea campus, which saw 17 small, Welsh, up-and-coming producers showcasing a wide variety of fresh produce. A TV film crew was present to capture the day's programme of events.
College Hospitality and Catering tutor Mike Evans and members of the Wales national junior culinary team, of which he is the manager, put together a variety of dishes utilising the fresh produce, whilst the college students performed a range of cocktail demonstrations.
There was also a chance to have a one-to-one 'menu option surgery' with Food Skills Cymru, and food specialist and author, Nerys Howell.
Local employers from within the tourism and hospitality sector were in attendance and were given an opportunity to try a range of produce. They were also given an insight by the producers on how to incorporate local produce into their menus.
2019 has been declared the 'Year of Discovery' by Visit Wales, and tourism and hospitality businesses in North Wales are being urged to give their guests a 'taste of Wales' by introducing them to new products.
With this goal in mind, Welsh food and drink business growth support project, Cywain - in conjunction with Conwy Cynhaliol (Conwy Rural Partnership) and Go North Wales Tourism and Hospitality Academy -organised the event as part of Conwy Business Week.
Among the producers present were: Grandma's Cupboard, Coffi Eryri, Conwy Kombucha, Pendragon Drinks, The Cocoa Counter, Jaspels Anglesey Craft Cider Ltd, Deli de Bruin, Delaney's Gluten Free Bakehouse, Maggie's Exotic Foods, Shire Meadery, Hafod Brewing, Merywen Gin (North Star Distillery), Castell Gwyn Cheese, Chilly Cow, and Shlizzy.
Cywain development manager, Marial Edwards, said:We know from research such as the Welsh Government Food and Drink Wales 'Value of Welshness' consumer survey that the provenance of food and drink is increasingly becoming more important to visitors.
"The information gathered by that survey shows that 80% of consumers prefer to buy Welsh products, and 44% are willing to pay more for Welsh produce.
"Importantly, 75% of UK consumers perceive Welsh produce as being of high quality. It is therefore very much in tourism and hospitality businesses' interests to use and promote Welsh food and drink to their customers".
