GUEST COLUMN:
Professor David Lloyd
Chair of Food & Drink Wales Industry Board; Food Innovation Wales; and Director of ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, Cardiff Metropolitan University
As the Chair of the Food & Drink Wales Industry Board, I’m often asked what exactly the Board does and how it supports the food and drink sector in Wales.
At its core, the Board brings together key players from across the Welsh food industry to work collaboratively to drive the sector forward. It’s a space where we not only discuss challenges but also share success stories, helping to ensure the continued growth and prosperity of the industry.
The composition of the Board, like the Welsh food and drink sector itself, is incredibly diverse. It spans from fish to vegetables, meat to agricultural produce, and even includes speciality items like food products of African origin. We bring together representatives from all corners of the industry, large processors, small producers, and everything in between. This diverse representation ensures we tackle issues from multiple perspectives and tailor solutions that can benefit the entire sector.
We meet formally four times a year and hold additional meetings as needed to address specific concerns. The strength of the Board lies in its collaborative approach, many of the problems raised by one company are often echoed by others, regardless of the size of the business or the specific sector they operate in. By identifying these common challenges, we can work collectively with the Welsh Government to seek targeted interventions. Whether it’s regulatory challenges, market access issues, or political decisions affecting the industry, the Board acts as a bridge between industry and government.
The Welsh Government set a target to grow the value of the ‘food foundation’ sector to at least £8.5 billion by 2025. The sector includes businesses that produce, process, manufacture and wholesale food and drink goods. The sector had a turnover of £9.3 billion in 2023, surpassing that £8.5 billion target two years early.
One of the key strengths of the Welsh food sector is its deep roots in local communities. While we often talk about Wales’ impressive achievement of meeting its sector target two years ahead of schedule, what’s less discussed is the fact that much of this success is driven by small businesses in rural areas. These enterprises are not only vital to the food and drink industry but are also central to the economic development of the communities they operate in. By creating jobs, supporting local supply chains, and fostering innovation, these businesses are driving economic growth from the grassroots up.
The Food & Drink Wales Industry Board’s role, therefore, is to ensure that this growth is sustainable and that the sector can continue to thrive in the face of emerging challenges. We do this by fostering collaboration, engaging with government, and always keeping the needs of the industry at the forefront of policy discussions. In an increasingly complex global market, having this structured dialogue between industry and government is more important than ever.
Wales’ food and drink sector is not just about producing goods, it’s about community, sustainability, and growth. Through the Board, we ensure that these values remain at the heart of what we do, helping the industry to thrive for years to come.
