Picture by Phil Blagg Photography.
Food and drink businesses have reported sales and business opportunities worth more £45 million from the Blas Cymru / Taste Wales 2025 event.
Organised by Welsh Government, the biennial showcase brought together more than 150 food and drink producers from Wales, presenting more than 200 new product ranges with 3,000 new products. The event served as a platform for innovation and growth, reinforcing Wales’ reputation for quality and diversity in food and drink.
Blas Cymru / Taste Wales 2025 attracted over 300 UK and international buyers, including leading UK retailers and foodservice operators, alongside buyers from key global markets such as the Middle East, East Asia, North America and Europe, including Scandinavia.
More than 2,700 trade meetings were held between buyers and producers in an intense, highly dynamic speed networking format, forging new trade links and expanding the reach of Welsh food and drink across domestic and international markets.
The new trade links have already resulted in over £45 million in forecasted sales, expanding distribution of Welsh food and drink in the UK and internationally.
Buyers praised the scale, quality, and diversity of Welsh products, highlighting the strong collaboration within the sector as a unique strength. Welsh producers also reported highly productive meetings, excellent networking opportunities, and meaningful new trade relationships.
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, said:
“Blas Cymru / Taste Wales is a powerful showcase of the ambition and innovation driving Wales’ food and drink sector.
“To see over £45 million in business opportunities is an incredible achievement and demonstrates the strength of our producers and the appetite for Welsh food and drink globally. We are proud to support our thriving food and drink sector in Wales and will continue to help it compete on the world stage.”
Sustainability initiatives led by the Welsh Government working in collaboration with the sector were highlighted in the product displays and information was available to buyers and producers. Carbon Reduction Plans developed by a wide range of the food and drink businesses taking part were featured in the product showcases alongside where businesses had undertaken Climate Adaptation and Resilience Training or achieved B Corp accreditation.
The event also celebrated innovation with the New Product Award, which went to Flavour Moments, a start-up food business from North Wales known for its Goat’s Cheese Pearls.
Flavour Moments began trading early 2025 after years of work behind the scenes by founder, Philippa, and has grown into a retail-ready brand, that is now stocked in delis, farm shops and most recently, Selfridges. Their award-winning range includes Goat’s Cheese Pearls delicately filled with fig, honey and pear, designed to elevate everything from salads and pizzas to cheese boards, canapés and picnics. More recently, cranberry, truffle and honey flavours have been launched for Christmas.
Philippa Galway, Managing Director of Flavour Moments, said:
“Winning the New Product Award is a real accolade for us, especially as the standard was so high, which shows the quality of food and drink that’s available in Wales. Our Goat’s Cheese Pearls have been incredibly well received, with them now being available in Selfridges and many other places.
“The support that we have received from the Welsh Government has been phenomenal, including mentoring from Cywain, technical support from the Food Technology Centre in Llangefni and the HELIX Programme, through to efficiency improvements by working with AMRC Cymru. These initiatives have been invaluable, and many start-up food and drink businesses would not be here today without them.”
Looking ahead, the Welsh Government will continue to champion the sector to deliver growth through programmes such as the Food & Drink Wales Trade Development Programme that will continue to foster relationships with the buyers and the Insight Programme which helps food and drink companies to work effectively with their trade partners and major international events programme such as Gulfood in Dubai in February 2026 and the Worldchefs Congress in May 2026, where Wales will be represented on the global culinary stage.
For more information on this year’s event and the upcoming Blas Cymru / Taste Wales Conference in October 2026, visit businesswales.gov.wales/foodanddrink/how-we-can-help/blas-cymru-taste-wales
