Conwy Food Producers in-depth guide…
Conwy Food Producers in-depth guide
to supplying public and private sectors
Calling on Conwy Food Producers keen to supply the public and private sectors - a special event, not to be missed, is being arranged for the New Year. Three experienced food ambassadors will offer expert leadership and guidance to developing market opportunities at this event at Glasdir Centre, Llanrwst, Conwy at 7:00pm, Tuesday evening, 10 January 2012.
Titled, ‘Food Producers: how to supply the public and private sectors’ food and drink experts, Ieuan Edwards, Edwards of Conwy proprietor; Sandy Boyd, Bodnant Welsh Food Mangaging Director and Dafydd Williams from Conwy County Borough Council’s Catering Department will share their experiences with small and medium sized local producers. The event is organised jointly by Conwy Rural Partnership and Cywain a project run by Menter a Busnes.
Myrddin Davies, Conwy Cynhaliol Project Manager explains: “Our aim at Conwy Cynhaliol is to offer support and promote sustainable development in rural Conwy. One aspect of that work is supporting economic development, which in rural Conwy sees agriculture and horticulture play a vital part. Working with Cywain, a project that brings added value to primary produce within the agriculture sector, we have organised an event where we invite small food and drink producers to discuss and explore new market opportunities. By bringing three food ambassadors, all fulfilling different roles within the food and drink sector, to share their experiences with the producers, we hope to encourage and explore new supply avenues available to our small and medium sized businesses.”
Successful businessman, Ieuan Edwards, 49, from Llanrwst, Conwy will be one of the speakers. A farmer’s son from Llanrwst in the Conwy Valley, Ieuan established a butchers shop at Conwy nearly 30 years ago and developed a well known Welsh meat brand ‘Edwards of Conwy.’ He currently supplies all major supermarket chains and exports produce around the world. In addition, in 2003, his manufacturing unit was established ‘The Traditional Welsh Sausage Co Ltd’ producing award winning Welsh sausages. He has recently secured a contract exporting his Welsh sausages to Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur and due to the high demand, will soon be dispatching his produce via a shipping container in comparison to the current format of pallets being flown to south east Asia via a Jumbo Jet. Traditional values remain at the core of his business together with quality Welsh meat.
“I will be keen to share some of my knowledge with the producers at Glasdir,” Ieuan Edwards explains. “Developing new markets and enhancing business opportunities during a troubled economic climate can prove difficult, but not impossible. I will be keen to share my personal business experiences and emphasise the importance of retaining valued customers, adding value to core produce, promoting good customer service and most of all, closing the deal with potential new customers.
“In my opinion, small food producers have the advantage of knowing their products inside out. They live, eat and breathe their produce, with many carrying on generations of food production and traditions. I will offer real life business scenarios I myself have experienced, scenarios dealing with difficult situations, rising to the challenge and coming away from client meetings having closed a good deal. I will, no doubt, learn from the producers themselves at this event, and will be keen to hear the other speakers’ views of the food and drink sector in Conwy. We never stop learning, and I am delighted to be invited to this evening at Glasdir Centre.”
Joining Ieuan will be Managing Director of Bodnant Welsh Food, Sandy Boyd. The local food pioneer and entrepreneur has vast experience of sourcing locally produced food, and is looking forward to the challenge of establishing Bodnant Welsh Food Centre at Furnace Farm, Eglwysbach, Conwy. His previous role saw him creating a new kind of Farm Shop at Ludlow where the food produce sold at the centre were created in the kitchens on site. Food was also selected from the four adjacent counties to be sold at the food centre, a strong sourcing policy that saw Ludlow Food Centre won numerous national and regional tourism and food awards.
Sandy Boyd will be keen to share information regarding Furnace Farm and discuss supplying opportunities for producers at Bodnant Welsh Food Centre due to open in the spring. A ‘Meet the Buyer’ event will be arranged on the 24 and 25 of January giving producers the opportunity to supply the Centre at Furnace Farm. More information will be available on the evening at Glasdir Centre.
Representing the public sector will be Dafydd Williams, Catering Manager for Conwy County Borough Council. Dafydd has the responsibility of purchasing and managing Conwy schools catering requirements. He will discuss how the county’s purchasing system works and how local producers could supply the education system’s school dinners.
Cywain,* a project spearheaded by Menter a Busnes set up to bring added value to primary produce within the agriculture sector will work with Conwy Cynhaliol to host the evening. The project has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Registration to attend the evening is compulsory due to limited numbers, email conwycynhaliol@conwy.gov.uk or call 01492 577837 to register or for further information. Light refreshments will be available during the evening.
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