Welsh food and drink business support programme – Cywain – will be celebrating a decade of nurturing talent in the sector by showcasing a raft of new enterprises at the Royal Welsh Show (July 22-25).
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For the past ten years Cywain has been guiding and encouraging small food and drink businesses – helping them to grow in confidence and skill.
Delivered by a Menter a Busnes, Cywain is a business-led programme dedicated to developing new and existing micro businesses and SMEs in the Welsh food and drink sector focusing on maximising opportunities and growth potential.
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Over the years Cywain has worked with countless companies – more than 350 in the last 12 months alone – many of which have been featured in the Royal Welsh Show’s famous Food Hall.
“Cywain was established to help these businesses realise their potential and equip them with the skills required to take their enterprises to the next level,” said Dewi Evans, Cywain Project Manager.
“To be present at the beginning of such exciting and innovative enterprises is a privilege. We are very proud to have worked with so many producers, some of whom have gone on to become key players and employers in the food and drink industry in Wales.”
Support is achieved through packages of business support targeted to individual requirements, including expert advice and mentoring, product development, networking, clustering, and test trading and market opportunities.
Sixteen producers will be showcased on the Cywain stand (Food Hall 67 & 68) at this year’s Royal Welsh Show, with four new producers each day.
Monday – 22nd July
- FFA DA – A friendship forged at the school gates has led to a new North Wales coffee enterprise – Ffa Da (Good Beans).
- Welsh Homestead Smokery – Ceredigion-based Welsh Homestead Smokery will have a whole host of artisan smoked food to tempt Food Hall visitors.
- Pembrokeshire Cider Company – The small Pembroke-based micro-brewery makes apple juice and cider and aims to keep its products as local as possible and incorporates nearby historical references.
- Gareth’s Delicious Delights – The family-run business has an impressive array of handmade chocolates, fudge and brownies to its repertoire and sold at markets and festivals.
Tuesday – 23rd July
- Ginger Jones Fudge – Ten flavours of Ginger Jones Fudge will be coming to Royal Welsh. The smooth creaminess is derived from the fudge’s chocolate-based recipe, and made by Sian in Pontypridd.
- Llanfairpwll Distillery – Royal Welsh Show visitors will be able to buy the world’s longest-named spirit – Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Gin.
- Earl’s Kitchen – Come rain or shine, Earl’s Kitchen sauces bring a flavour of the Caribbean to your cooking.
- Halen Dewi – Harnessing the power of nature, Halen Dewi produces sea salt from the pure waters off the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
Wednesday – 24th July
- Teioni – Launching at the Royal Welsh Show will be Teioni – a refreshing, sparkling kombucha fermented green tea – produced by five health-conscious teachers from Anglesey.
- Mêl-ys – It is nearly a decade since Lloyd Thomas started keeping bees at his home in Carmarthenshire, and now his Mêl-ys honey will be making its debut in the Royal Welsh Food Hall.
- The Little Welsh Chocolate Company – Alison Pope’s goal is to create a range of ethically sourced, environmentally friendly products that are 100% suitable for vegetarians, with vegan options too.
- Drop Bear Beer Co – Dropping the alcohol, not the flavour – that’s the mantra of new brewery The Drop Bear Beer Co., the only alcohol-free craft beer company in Wales.
Thursday – 25th July
- Jaspels Craft Cider – Many might think that not owning an orchard might be a problem for a cider company, but the power of social media combined with people’s generosity has resulted in an award-winning enterprise – Jaspels Craft Cider.
- The Fudge Foundry – Hot on the heels from attending the Pub in the Park event in Bath with Cywain, The Fudge Foundry will be bringing sweet flavours to Llanelwedd.
- Kefir Cymru – Business founder, Helen Wynn from Y Felinheli, hopes her cow’s milk kefir will bring customers the same positive health benefits she has seen in her own family.
- Inner Grace – Swansea-based nut butter producer, Inner Grace, will be revealing its fresh and funky new look.
For most of them, it will be the first time they will have showcased their products to such a large audience – and for some it will be their trading debut.
