Wales’ agricultural show is nearly upon us and hopefully the weather will be kinder than it has been over the last few years. Welsh Country’s focus of course will be mainly on food with two areas for us to cover, the Food Hall, which is run through the Welsh Government and the Farmers Market In Wales area, under the direction of Steve Shearman.
The producers that are in the Food Hall will be counting on lots of people through obviously, but also that the layout that will allow visitors the chance to browse and purchase at their leisure. Last year’s layout simply didn’t work and the crowds were so huge that is was verging on dangerous as people in wheelchairs and those with buggies were literally carried along with the flow, but struggled to even see the stands properly,let alone purchase. I hope lessons have been learnt by the organisers and that they realise how important this event is to our producers. Stand prices are very expensive in the Food Hall and a producer told me at the weekend that after paying in full, they’d be pestered for additional payments for electric, so unsure what had gone wrong there. But what I did find disappointing is that traders are charged £48.00 per night to park their caravans. It’s some time since I was in a caravan doing a tradestand, but usually we got it free or at the most a minimal charge. I haven’t a clue what today’s standard rate is for a caravan pitch but around £6.00 – £10.00 per night was the norm. In some ways I can understand private accommodation providers trying to make the most money possible during the RAWS week, but what I find upsetting is that this is caravan charge is being made by the RWAS. If RWAS are able to charge visitors £48.00 a night, fair enough, I understand that they have to make money. But what I don’t like is it feels like RWAS attitude is if you want to be here that’s what you must pay, take it our leave it. But I do think it would be a great gesture if RWAS would look again at traders’ caravan charges and make them more reasonable. The trader I was speaking to is paying out over £1,000 for a stand in the Food Hall, excluding samples, so I can only hope that this year the Food Hall does work well and the producers have a busy and profitable show – they certainly need it.
Head for Stand A42 to find the Farmers’ Markets in Wales Catering Concession, I’m really looking forward to seeing how this area looks and works. The market always has a great vibe about it. There’s nothing better than seeing families declining the vast array of fast-food that’s always on offer and enjoying good local food and drink with lots of taste and flavour – coming literally from Welsh forks in the ground to the fork on your plate at the Royal Welsh Show. It will be the ultimate fork to fork experience.
trader
July 8, 2011 at 8:40 am
keep on talking sense and eventually the powers-that-be will wake up and listen ————-
I’d love to go to RAWS but those prices when you are running on small margins means it’s a non starter.
I’ll ring Steve Shearman and find out if he has space left
Many organisers just stick trader prices up and up and yet make little effort to get more visitors attending – little advertising, little signage, precious little radio and some don’t even do press releases – this is unfair and should not be allowed to continue. If you haven’t the skills to run an event then either get others to help you or don’t bother.
we can’t afford to do festivals and markets that are not bringing us money in
rip off
July 12, 2011 at 3:43 pm
can you tell us where all this money goes? It’s too expensive for me to attend and £48 for a van for 1 night it’s a rip off. Make money out of anyone you can royal welsh do need to support the food producers
wag and the royal not much to choose between the two of them
Jo
July 13, 2011 at 8:30 am
it’s about time we knew the costs of wag and rwas for food hall
i thought this year food hall would be full of true taste winners but where are they all? The winners get so much given to them, but there are stories ongoing about poor judging or bad judging.
If you saw a recent TV programme – The Ferret – they raised a query as to whether a judge actually went to a Crickhowell tea room at all!!!
I’m not sure how TT can be a brand. If I’m a winning cheesemaker or brewer, the brand I am pushing is my brand not TT, and never will be TT. I’ll just accept any bonues and cheap stands that wag then offer me, well you would build your own brand and then push my products as TT – that’s so stupid. But wag if you insist on calling this your brand, then the least you should do is make it a brand to be proud of. That TV programme highlighted what some of us have been saying for years, TT needs revamping and runing like a business which is not a Wag strength.
cider boy
July 13, 2011 at 8:35 am
I’m not sure that wag will wake-up I find them more in a coma-like state when I try and get answers from them and it takes so long. It’s easier talking to you and Ian and Rob because UR the people with your finger on the pulse on food. let’s go with a union
In the know
July 13, 2011 at 8:56 pm
As a TT Gold winner, i have to refute what Jo has written, I have never had anything given to me, and even had to chase them for an apron! Maybe the “flagship” companies have had help, but I did not receive any advertising, funding, stall fees or even a phone call after the award. I was asked if I would enter again, but as it cost me money with no visible return, I have politely declined.
The Ferret program was interesting, as the cafe could prove that the order the judge claimed he had eaten had not ever been ordered. It did show several food businesses attending Milford Fish festival in a very good light which was good. I hope they follow up the judging story…
winner
July 14, 2011 at 3:05 pm
Jo’s wrong and I’m in full agreement with intheknow.
There seem to be a few pr people, who are no doubt paid lots of cash by wag, but wag should work out what they are paying for, try asking us winners what we think – that would be sensible.
You cannot say Jo that all winners get everything thrown at them from wag, that’s not true. There are two sections of winners, some that wag bend over backwards and some that never have the same amount of help offered, and that’s NOT fair.
Again with wag it’s a case of does your face fit are you saying wonderful things about us, because if you aren’t tough luck – paddle your own canoe, because you are off wag’s help list. We all know this happens and we know that wag will not admit it happens, but will never improve this expensive TT system and make it not only fair, but that it also appears to everyone that it is fair. There are too many complaints behind the scenes because very few are prepared to take on wag. I admire not only this lot with this site and their magazine, but the guy with the tearoom in Crickhowell. That shows bottle from you all and you have my admiration and my thanks for trying to change them.