Welsh food and drinks producers have only two weeks left to get their entry in to be recognised at the inaugural Wales Food and Drink Awards. The call to entry is for any business that works in the production of Welsh Food and drink to submit their entry form before the nomination deadline closes at 5pm on the 8 April 2022.
Supported by Castell Howell, the national awards will provide a platform for Welsh producers and suppliers to be celebrated. They will highlight both the diversity of the sector, and shine a light on the success stories that are scaling up, creating employment and who will be an inspiration to others.
Businesses and individuals in the vibrant food and drink sector are invited to submit entries for free across 13 categories, with those shortlisted then invited to attend the black-tie awards ceremony on 13 May at the Mercure Hotel, Cardiff.
The awards are sponsored and supported by Business News Wales, Castell Howell, Cambrian Training, Culinary Association of Wales, Cywain, HSBC, Hugh James, Department of Trade & industry, Food innovation Wales, Hybu Cig Cymru, Stills, Village Bakery, and Wales Food and Drink Board.
Dr Owen Roberts from Hybu Cig Cymru-Meat Promotion Wales encourages entries from the sector to the awards and said:
The Welsh food and drink sector is a real success story, with brands such as Welsh Lamb and many others being iconic and highly respected worldwide. These awards are a chance to recognise excellence – in areas such as innovation, sustainability, business growth and export success – which will benefit individual businesses and the sector as a whole.
Professor David Lloyd, Director, Food Industry Centre, Cardiff Met University, said:
Food Innovation Wales are delighted to be involved with the Wales Food and Drink Awards; it will be an excellent opportunity to celebrate the outstanding talent and innovation within the thriving Welsh food and drink sector.
There are 13 categories to enter and two judges choice categories:
- Wales Food & Drink Start-Up of the Year
- Wales Food & Drink Entrepreneur of the Year
- Wales Food & Drink Exporter of the Year
- Wales Food & Drink Apprentice of the Year
- Wales Food & Drink Innovation Award
- Wales Food & Drink Sustainable Values Award
- Wales Food & Drink Rising Star of the Year
- Wales Food & Drink Scale up Company of the Year
- Wales Food & Drink Community Award
- Wales Food Producer of the Year
- Wales Drinks Producer of the year
- Wales Food & Drink Artisan Business of the Year
- Covid-19 Resilience Award
Judges Choice:
- Wales Food and Drink Champion of the Year
- Overall Welsh Food & Drink Producer of the Year/Lifetime Achievement Award.
The chair of Judges is Robin Jones, MD of Village Bakery. Joining him on the judging panel is Kathryn Jones, Sales and Marketing Director, Castell Howell, Alison Lea-Wilson, Co-founder of Anglesey Sea Salt and Roger Jones retired Michelin starred chef and wine journalist, as well as the sponsors for each category.
The deadline for entry is at 5pm on the 8 April. The finalists will be invited to an interview process.
For more information visit: www.foodanddrinkawards.wales
