RSS
 

Posts Tagged ‘Welsh Country magazine’

What Progress Nearly Four Years On?

04 Apr

In July 2008 Ian and I were asked to attend a meeting in Aberystwyth with a couple of Wag personnel and a representative from the Tourism Partnership Mid Wales, to give them some help about Welsh food. Our time was of course given on a voluntary
basis………………….

Not sure if this will interest, annoy or irritate you further. So when you have time, go through them and let me know what
progress we’ve made. It’s disappointing to say the least, that in my view not a great deal in nearly four years on. I couldn’t even guesstimate the amount of money Wag (Food) has had pumped in from Europe or as where it has gone and supposedly
achieved either.

1. Sourcing – lack of knowledge within the hospitality sector of where to source certain produce.

2. No joined up thinking.

3. Local Food Talks programme has ticked the box but there is more work to be done.

4. Some producers are not very professional in their set up. They  attend ‘Farmers Markets’ etc. but are ‘lifestyle producers’       and do not have any follow on information for the ‘consumer’, i.e. business cards, brochures, websites.

5. Food Festivals – tighter control is needed on the producers that are present – some are not from Wales.

6. WAG staff should be present at food festivals.

7. Those producers that receive training through any public sector programme should be regularly reviewed.

8. Growing – start up food sector companies struggle with the ‘red tape’ with little public sector support.

9.  No joined up thinking between WAG and councils with regards to promotion of food events. There were no signs for Pwllheli, food festival this year as the local council were not supportive of them being erected.

  1. Press releases – publicity for food events can be done through a wide variety of media sources including
    Welsh Country magazine. But we receive very few press releases from food festivals.

11. Builth event – Showcase – to cold and impersonal, not enough networking by the public sector bodies attending.

12. Smaller informal networking opportunities for the hospitality sector – hotels and similar establishments need to work together on sourcing and delivery issues.

13. Grant schemes – tighter controls are needed on where those receiving grants spend the money – more emphasis and tighter controls need to be in place to ensure that they source as much as possible form within Wales.

  1. WAG – sourcing of goods and services should be more within Wales.

15. More use needs to be made of ‘good speakers’ to take forward the message on local food sourcing.

16. More opportunities for networking and sharing of good practice amongst food producers – isolation a large issue for small producers.

17. Ceredigion Chamber of Commerce poor turnout at meetings – there is a need for ‘business’ clubs for food / tourism businesses to facilitate and support networking opportunities.

18. Businesses are de-motivated – apathy within the industry.

19. Messages and feedback on the ‘food issue’ not getting through to the minister.

  1. Pubs – cafes’ a possible grading scheme could work, however advice for businesses on branding and promotion would help.

21. Good customer service is key to the success of the industry.

22. Staff who have good product and area knowledge are key to the success of any establishment.

23. Hospitality businesses should be asked ‘what they expect when on holiday’ to highlight the perceived gaps in the sector within Wales.

24. Knowing your market is key to the success of any business.

25. Visit Wales grading system is not fair – logic does not seem to apply.

26. Producers could market their produce and cafés and restaurants could promote their goods by ‘taste and sell’ events.

27. For good all round feedback, use ‘secret shoppers’ at different times of the day.

28. Food festivals and events do not provide seating for visitors on an informal basis, i.e. there is nowhere to sit and eat the food being sold.

29. WAG – PR needs to be wider – True Taste is not a recognised brand, better / clearer marketing is needed.

30. Getting producers to work closer with the hospitality sector and ensuring that the producers recognise how key these markets are to them even if they are True Taste winners.

31. No joined up approach from within WAG – food and tourism need to work closer.

 

 

 

 

 
2 Comments

Posted in Uncategorized

 

The Shed, Fish & Chip Bistro, Porthgain, Pembrokeshire

03 Apr

I’m more than overdue to put another cheery post up and one that doesn’t focus on that three letter word, Wag.

Instead let me share my lovely lunch last Saturday, just in case like me you are fish fans, enjoy being close to the sea and also love Pembrokeshire.

Regular welshfoodbite fans will know that this is a particular favourite haunt of mine and so dear readers, you will be delighted to hear that this season it is still as good as ever!

It’s called The Shed, and the shed is a great description and sums up beautifully its rustic feel. It is situated on the quayside with views over the harbour and of course fish is what this place – sorry for yet another poor pun. They usually do though have a meat alternative and can cater for vegetarians if you let them know beforehand. We Ian and I visited they had their blackboard outside advertising fresh scones just out of the oven and try one of those with their delicious coffee or maybe be tempted with one of the delicious homemade cakes.

I polished off haddock, which was coated in a tasty local beer batter, handcut Pembrokeshire potato chips and mushy peas, whilst Ian couldn’t rest the temptation of beer battered ling and a beautiful apple and fennel salad. We ate so much even I couldn’t be
tempted with a pudding. But goodness me it was good. The Shed serves much local fish and shellfish that they’ve caught themselves; it’s landed daily and then served within hours. You can’t get fresher or local than that can you?

As the weather warms up there’s seating outside and a grassy area to the side which both children, parents and grandparents will enjoy as they run off some steam.

Loyal readers will know I’m a stickler for service, but it must be friendly and again The Shed was, as always, totally spot on. Simple and satisfying meals it what they aim to provide and they’ve certainly never let me down. I’ll be back as soon as possible to sample their delicious crab sandwiches and some more of their handcut Pembrokeshire chips – another of my weaknesses.

If you are in the area, please do pay them a visit, but it’s a good idea to ring beforehand at busy times. You find more details about The Shed and lots of other super eateries in ‘Where To Eat’ pages in Welsh Country magazine. For more info about The Shed visit: www.theshedporthgain.co.uk

 
2 Comments

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Food Festival Listing Update

29 Mar

Another post as no press release from the Wag as yet as regards the food festival listing that was
promised w/c 19th March. The latest news into our office, although not from wag, is from an organiser who has been told they’ll receive news of funding by the middle of next week. So will this be better than an Easter egg from wag or not?

I’m sorry for those that are still contacting us by phone and email to get this listing, but as I’ve said before, when I get it, all our Best Of Welsh & Borders producers will have it emailed to them and of course I’ll publish it in full, here on welshfoodbites and of course on welshcountry.co.uk.

 
3 Comments

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Brecon Beacons Chefs Show Their Initiative

19 Mar

I had the following press release through from Brecon Beacons:

A group of chefs working within the Brecon Beacons National Park area came together yesterday (15.03.12) to form
a Brecon Beacons Chefs Club to promote local produce in the National Park on their restaurant menus.

Meeting at the Gliffaes Hotel near Crickhowell, one of 26 hotels in Wales to achieve a Gold Award from Visit Wales, the new Brecon Beacons Chefs Club introduced 8 locally based chefs to each other allowing them the chance to discuss ideas and stories on ways promote local produce on their respective menus.

Project coordinator Carol Williams, Tourism Growth Officer for the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority part of the Mid Wales Local Food Talks partnership noted: “The aim of establishing a chefs club here in the Brecon Beacons is to encourage local chefs to get to know the food and drink produced in the area and get inspired to source local produce for their menus. Over the coming months the Brecon Beacons Chef’s Club members will visit local producers as well as sample local
delicacies and enjoy luncheons, such as today’s, prepared with locally sourced produce.”

Inaugural Brecon Beacon Chef Club members include Matt Voyle from The Bear Hotel, Crickhowell, Carole Paish of The Bridge Cafe, Brecon, Robert Bryant from The Coach and Horses in Llangynidr, Karl Cheetham of The Gliffaes Hotel, Crickhowell, Craig Wilden from The Star in Talybont-on-Usk, Kelvin Parry of Peterstone Court, Llanhamlach,  and Lousie Gudsell from Tipple ‘N’ Tiffin in Brecon.

According to James Suter, owner of the Gliffaes hotel who hosted the first meeting and arranged the inaugural
locally sourced luncheon: “Gone are the days of having to accept poor food in Wales when you go out; we have become a nation of foodies – you expect good food.  Our customers and visitors want to see local produce on the menus and know that what they’re eating and experiencing has provenance and comes from down the road.”

Chef Karl Chetham of the Gliffaes continued, “We are so lucky of our location here right in the middle of the Brecon Beacons National Park.  Here we are surrounded by farmland that is not intensively farmed which provides us with
especially good local lamb and beef.  Moving through the seasons we enjoy the best of game, partridge, pheasant and venison during Autumn and Winter and a few years ago we started growing our own vegetables here at the hotel – all be it on
a small scale at present.”

The Brecon Beacons Chefs Club is one of a growing number of clubs established in Wales.

Well this is impressive and I hope that this idea continues to grow. The beauty of using local producers, highlighting Welsh local produce on menus is what we at Welsh Country magazine have been trying to achieve for a long time. I hope that all our Best Of Welsh & Borders producers in the Beacons area are already talking to the chefs in their area and I look forweard to hearing lots about more clubs forming across Wales.

Well done Brecon  Beacons and I do congratulate all those involved. Please let’s keep this going……………………………….

 

 

 
4 Comments

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Food Festival Consultation Workshop

14 Nov

After visiting over 20, mostly funded food festivals this year, and then taken the time and trouble to blog them, I must confess to be feeling very disenchanted about the food festival scene inWales.

Wherever Ian and I go, whenever we are talking to the food industry, we are constantly being asked about festivals and their future – as if anyone in power would tell me! But this is generally from producers who are also rather disillusioned about what Wag might have planned for 2012.  For many years Ian and I have been asking and advising Wag to talk to producers and more importantly to listen to what they have to say, sadlly I thought this had fallen on deaf ears.  

But dear readers, it looks like we are making some progress after all – hurrah, hurrah!!! I’m grateful for the organisers who have told me about a Food Festivals Consultation Workshop that is being held on 16th November. Of course it’s Wag’s agenda, and of course Wag haven’t told us about it, and of course Ian and I aren’t invited, BUT the important issue is that it’s happening.  

I have to accept that Wag are hardly likely to admit that Welsh Country magazine and welshfoodbites can offer any help to the food industry. Maybe it’s just too difficult for them to accept that we can be of use to them and after working so hard for Welsh food over the last seven years, that’s disappointing, to say the least, but we do apprecaite it takes strong, confident people to say ‘we got it wrong.’ Our food producers however know what’s happening and our concern is for them. It’s our objective to build a better Welsh food industry, but why Wag can’t see that and work with us, is down to them. That we have to plough through the Welsh politics and Welsh Civil Service twaddle to make progress, is par for the course and will no doubt continue.

Anyway this Workshop is the good news and something that has been badly needed and is years overdue. Now we must hope that the organisers will give full and frank feedback, along with their comments, without worrying that if they ‘say the wrong thing, i.e. something Wag doesn’t wish to hear, their future funding could be in jeopardy. This is one of Wag’s main problems. I’d like to know if some of our professional food festival producers have been invited, because what is so important is that this industry is their livelihood and they too have a right to be consulted. I am well aware that some comments come back that producers shouldn’t rely on festivals, but I don’t agree with that, not every producer can plan or wants to go the supermarket way.         

What has been interesting is the response to welshfoodbites, where of course, food festivals have been a very hot topic. I have been forthright in my views of what I have seen at the food festivals I have attended. Yes ok these are my thoughts, but as a passionate Welsh foodie why am I not coming away from these events delighted to have made the effort to attend them? Well quite frankly, far too many have still got the basics wrong. I’ll not bore regular readers, yet again, by spouting my ‘could-do-better’ lists. Suffice it to say if organisers cannot get the town behind them and get basic signage out early, they shouldn’t be running and certainly not be funded.   

I didn’t attend many festivals in the north this year, which is purely down to lack of time. But of those I did attend, the ones that stood out for me that were funded were: Cowbridge and Really Wild and for non-funded ones: Big Cheese and St Fagans. But four out of twenty is not a good ratio at all from a foodie.

I have been vocal in the amount of money that Abergavenny,Cardiff and Conwy take from the festival budget and I know that Wag have this year elevated the ‘Big Three’ to international status, citing their value for tourism. But if tourism is so vital in relation to food, how much does Visit Wales put into the food festival budget? This also links into another question being asked, who are food festivals for: producers/tourism/economic development/other? But surely if food festivals are not there for food producers, why did Wag work to a criteria that this year food festivals had to have food as the core activity? Hitting some festivals hard including The Smallholder. If food producers aren’t that important to food festivals then why do organisers generally want their stands fees in so early, or maybe, being really silly, why do food producers have to pay to go to festivals at all? Another question is self-funding, which Wag have told me for years food festivals should aim to be, yet appears to contradict that statement when it raises the big three to international status and maintains their funding levels. Aren’t these three in particular capable of getting sponsorship? Because it they can’t there’s is no hope for some of the smaller ones. Let’s also be sensible here too, one size does not fit all and that applies to food festivals too – the needs for a small festival from Wag will surely be different say to Cardiff wont it?  

For once I can congratulate Wag for listening and putting on this event. I do query who will actually be attending, but at least they are making a start. Hopefully it will prove a successful meeting and maybe pave the way forward for a more profitable stable future for food producers. I’m sure I will get feedback after the meeting, maybe not of course from Wag, but that is realistically not expected.

 
20 Comments

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Wales The True Taste Food & Drink Award Winners 2011-12

21 Oct

 Congratulations to all the winners at last night’s celebration held in Llandudno and I hope you all enjoyed the evening. I am also delighted at the number of our Best Of  Welsh & Borders producers, all the team at Welsh Country magazine are thrilled to bits for you!!!!

Follows is the list of winners:   

LAMB

GOLD

Cig Mynydd Cymru

Rack of Welsh Lamb

SILVER

Graig Farm Organics

Organic Sirloin of Lamb

BRONZE

Welsh Venison Centre

Rack of Welsh Lamb

BEEF

GOLD

Cwmcerrig Farm Shop and Grill

Sirloin Steak

SILVER

Castell Howell Foods Ltd

Bone In 711g Welsh Beef Rib Eye Steak

BRONZE

Ifor’s Welsh Wagyu

Quick Fry Steak (Rump Tail)

PORK

GOLD

Dawn Meats (UK) Ltd

Pork Belly Joint with Smoky Barbecue Glaze

SILVER

Welsh Venison Centre

Welsh Belly of Pork

BRONZE

Rob Rattray Butchers

Sweet Cured Bacon

 POULTRY & GAME

 GOLD

Hooton’s Homegrown

Free Range Chicken Breast

SILVER

BethesdaFarm and Coffee Shop

Garlic and Smoked Bacon

Chicken Supreme

BRONZE

Blas ar Fwyd Cyf

Chicken and Welsh Ale Soup

OTHER ADDED VALUE MEAT PRODUCTS

GOLD

Edwards of Conwy

Pork, Black Pudding and Egg Pie

SILVER

Trealy Farm Charcuterie

Beech-Smoked Air-Dried Ham

BRONZE

Cnwd

Pork and Pistachio Terrine

BURGERS & SAUSAGES

GOLD

Gorno’s Speciality Foods Ltd

Spicy Chorizo Sausage

SILVER

Saloni

Saloni Chorizo

BRONZE

Castell Howell Foods Ltd

Gourmet Welsh Pork with Honey and Mustard Burger

MILK, YOGURT, BUTTER & CREAM – SMALL PRODUCER

GOLD

Sanclêr Organic

Melys Strained Yogurt withSevilleOranges

SILVER

Ty Tanglwyst Dairy

Fresh Whole Milk

BRONZE

Derimon Smokery Ltd

Welsh Oak Smoked Welsh Butter

CHEESE – SMALL PRODUCER

GOLD

Holden Farm Dairy

Hafod Cheese

SILVER

Trethowan’s Dairy Limited

Gorwydd Caerphilly

BRONZE

Y Cwt Caws

Peli Pabo Garlic and Herb

ICE CREAM – SMALL PRODUCER

GOLD

Baravelli’s

Raspberry Ripple Dairy Ice Cream

SILVER

Hufenfa’r Castell

Riwbob Ice Cream

BRONZE

The Patchwork Traditional Food Company

Vanilla Pod Ice Cream withAngleseySeaSalted Caramel Ripple

MILK, YOGURT, BUTTER & CREAM – LARGE PRODUCER

GOLD

South CaernarfonCreameries

Dragon Welsh Salted Butter

SILVER

Proper Welsh Milk Company

Proper Welsh Milk

BRONZE

South CaernarfonCreameries

Dragon Whole Milk

CHEESE – LARGE PRODUCER

GOLD

Milk Link, Llandyrnog Creamery

Cadog Mature Welsh Cheddar

SILVER

First Milk

Pembrokeshire Mature

BRONZE

Carmarthenshire Cheese Company Ltd

ICE CREAM – LARGE PRODUCER

GOLD

Subzero

Luxury Vanilla Dairy Ice Cream

SILVER

Forte’s Ice Cream

Vanilla Ice Cream

BRONZE

Forte’s Ice Cream

Clotted Cream with Peach & Raspberry

CAKES

GOLD

choc-o-art

Marbled ChocolateOrangeTemptation

SILVER

Harvies Ltd

Raspberry and Almond Frangipane

BRONZE

The Village Bakery (Coedpoeth) Ltd

M&S Welsh Cakes

CONFECTIONERY

GOLD

Uncle Peter’s Fudge Company

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Fudge

SILVER

Cathryn Cariad Chocolates

Salted Caramels

BRONZE

Baravelli’s

Vanilla Salted Caramel

OTHER BAKED GOODS

GOLD

Cradocs Savoury Biscuits

Perl Las Savoury Biscuits

SILVER

Cradocs Savoury Biscuits

Leek and Caerphilly Savoury Biscuits

BRONZE

La Crème Patisserie Ltd

Frangipane Mince Pies

NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS

GOLD

Welsh Farmhouse Apple Juice

Egremont Russet

SILVER

Brecon Mineral Water

Brecon Carreg Welsh Natural Mineral Water – Still

BRONZE

Brecon Mineral Water

Brecon Carreg Welsh Natural Mineral Water – Sparkling

BEER, CIDER & PERRY (UNDER 10% ABV)

GOLD

The Celt Experience Ltd

Celt-Golden

SILVER

Monty’s Brewery

Sunshine

BRONZE

Blaengawney Cider

Hallets Real Cider

WINE, SPIRITS & OTHER ALCOHOL (OVER 10% ABV)

GOLD

Celtic Spirit Co

Danzy Jones

SILVER

Condessa Welsh Liqueurs

Sloe Gin

BRONZE

Da Mhile Distillery

Da Mhile Orange Liquer

FRESH FISH & SHELLFISH

GOLD

Welsh Seafoods Ltd

Brill

SILVER

South &West WalesFishing

Communities Ltd

Welsh Wild Line Caught Sea Bass

BRONZE

Gill’s Plaice

Cardigan BaySilver Mullet

ADDED VALUE FISH & SHELLFISH

GOLD

Aberdaron Seafood Ltd

Dressed Crab

SILVER

Llandudno Smokery

Kiln Roasted Oak Smoked Salmon

BRONZE

Black Mountains Smokery Ltd

Traditional Smoked Salmon

FRUIT

GOLD

Stubbins Marketing

Baby Plum Tomatoes

SILVER

Primrose Organic Centre

Tayberries

BRONZE

Primrose Organic Centre

Raspberries

VEGETABLES

GOLD

Puffin Produce Ltd

Rudolph Potato

SILVER

Llwynhelyg Farm Shop

Folia Fragrantia

BRONZE

Hooton’s Homegrown

Asparagus

CONDIMENTS, SAUCES & CHUTNEY

GOLD

The Anglesey Sea Salt Company

Halen Môn smoked over

Welsh Oak

SILVER

Sarah Cooks Your Homemade Pickles and Preserves

Mediterranean Chutney

BRONZE

Goetre Farm Preserves

Pineapple, Red Pepper and Roasted Cumin Chutney

JAMS, MARMALADE & HONEY

GOLD

Baravelli’s

Lemon Marmalade with Brecon Welsh Gin

SILVER

Tropical Forest Products Limited

Welsh Chunk Comb Honey

BRONZE

Bryn Seiriol Preserves

Lemon Curd

OTHER SPECIALITY FOODS

GOLD

Baravelli’s

Mince Pies

SILVER

PennsylvaniaFarm Free-Range Eggs

Free-Range Duck Eggs

BRONZE

TheMushroomGarden

Antipasto Shiitake Mushroom

HEALTHY OPTIONS

GOLD

Welsh Venison Centre

Venison Haunch Steak

SILVER

Siwgr a Sbeis Cyf

Bara Brith

BRONZE

Sanclêr Organic

Cottage Cheese with Garlic and Chives

SPECIAL DIETARY OPTIONS

GOLD

Homemade Country Preserves

No Added Sugar Raspberry Preserve

SILVER

Homemade Country Preserves

No Added Sugar Damson Preserve

BRONZE

CocoBean

Classic Gluten Free Brownie

ORGANIC

GOLD

The Anglesey Sea Salt Company

Halen Môn with Organic Celery Seeds

SILVER

The Anglesey Sea Salt Company

Halen Môn with Organic Spices

BRONZE

Holden Farm Dairy

Hafod Cheese

WALES THE TRUE TASTE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR

Baravelli’s

Lemon Marmalade with Brecon Welsh Gin

WELSH EXPORT ACHIEVEMENT

GOLD

Village Bakery Nutrition Ltd

SILVER

Capestone Organic Poultry Ltd

BRONZE

Randall Parker Foods

RETAILER OF THE YEAR DIRECT SALES

GOLD

Llwynhelyg Farm Shop

SILVER

Cwmcerrig Farm Shop and Grill

BRONZE

Hawarden Estate Farm Shop

ONLINE RETAILER

GOLD

Douglas Willis Ltd

SILVER

Pembrokeshire Produce Direct

BRONZE

Gower Cottage Brownies

DELI/SPECIALITY STORE

GOLD

Ultracomida Ltd

SILVER

Leonardo’s Delicatessen Ltd

BRONZE

Bradleys Deli

BUTCHERS

GOLD

Edwards of Conwy

SILVER

Douglas Willis Ltd

BRONZE

T.J. Roberts & Son

FISHMONGER

GOLD

Claws Shellfish

SILVER

Gill’s Plaice

BRONZE

Pysgod Llŷn Seafoods & Delicatessen

LOCAL SOURCING INITIATIVE

GOLD

Llwynhelyg Farm Shop

SILVER

Hawarden Estate Farm Shop

BRONZE

The Village Bakery

EATING OUT IN WALES – RESTAURANTS (NO ROOMS)

GOLD

Cwtch

Rachael Copley (was Knott)

SILVER

Y Ffarmers

BRONZE

number eighteen

RESTAURANTS/HOTELS (WITH ROOMS)

GOLD

The Grove

SILVER

Llansantffraed Court

BRONZE

Tyddyn Llan Restaurant with Rooms

CAFES & TEA-ROOMS

GOLD

The Award Winning Old Stables Tea Rooms

SILVER

Caffi Florence

BRONZE

The Hive

CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

GOLD

Primrose Organic Centre

SILVER

Lloyds of Penlanlas

BRONZE

Cwmcerrig Farm Shop and Grill

TRUE TASTE CHAMPION

 Conrad Davies

Eurospar

 
1 Comment

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Brecon Food Festival – Delayed Feedback

17 Oct

Held on Saturday 1st October in the market hall in the centre of Brecon, this is one I didn’t attend as I went to Bridgend and one I didn’t get much positive producer feedback from. But on Saturday, I had a meeting in Brecon and called into one of my regular coffee shops in the midst of the town.

Chatting with the owner, I was disappointed and angry to learn that this coffee shop knew nothing about the food festival taking place about 5 minutes walk from their premises until the morning itself!

What a farce. I am fed-up of repeating myself on lack of PR & Marketing of many food festivals, and no doubt you are bored of my reports too now, but if organisers cannot manage to inform their local shops and supply decent sized posters and flyers, to plaster the town with, then why are they bothering at all?

This particular coffee shop hadn’t geared up for any extra trade. They’d not produced extra stock and more importantly – not brought in any extra staff. It’s back to my regular grumble, communicate, join up the writing, make everyone aware of what’s happening and encourage the locals to support this event and also bring in the visitors too. 

After this year’s festivals, I hope Wag engage brain and have a serious re-think, not only about how they allocate their funding, should there be any, but how this money is spent. Are celebrity chefs really worth bringing in? If Wag allow this situation to continue yet again in 2012, then it’s up to the food producers to vote with their feet and raise their voices to get some basic improvements made.

 
3 Comments

Posted in Uncategorized

 

True Taste Awards 2011

14 Oct

I received another press release about True Taste last week with a message saying: Any members of the media who would like to cover  Wales’ The True Taste Food & Drink Awards ceremony, contact a person in Wag. I’m not sure if this is meant to be classed as this years’ bulk press invitation, or if it’s just Wag’s suggestion that we report on it for them …………………

I asked Wag if they could send the results through to me, embargoed, so we could get them on our website pronto. But for the first time ever, I had to sign a confidential disclosure agreement that I wouldn’t release this information any earlier than their embargoed time. Yesterday I received a press release from the Welsh Government Newsdesk, embargoed, but nothing for me to sign, trusted as a journalist to do my job – yippee!

The excitement and anticipation is building as to who will win what and I’m unhappy that I, as media, not only can’t be trusted with confidential information, but that I would want spoil the thrill of the moment when the gold winner is announced. I have never been 100% behind the way Wag have devised the True Taste Awards and much prefer the Great Taste Awards, who judge producers to win 3, 2, and 1 stars. Three stars means. ‘wow you must taste this product’ two stars means ‘ faultless’ and one star means ‘close to perfect.’ But there is no way I would mar this special moment for any producer and I trust my journalistic colleagues will act as professionals and obey press release that are embargoed.   

The True Taste results will be on welshcountry.co.uk and also welshfoodbites.co.uk as soon as we are allowed to release them.   

For those of you that are heading to Llandudno next Thursday, have a wonderful night, we’ll be thinking about you and the Welsh Country team want to wish our Best Of Welsh & Borders producers going forward for True Taste Awards, the very best of luck. I have my fingers crossed, well not literally or I couldn’t use my keyboard, that you all win gold, but if not, it’s still a great achievement and we know how hard you have work, particularly these last few years!!

 
2 Comments

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Royal Welsh Winter Fair

30 Sep

I’m getting quite a few complaints about the stand costs that the FFMDD are charging food producers this year for the Winter Fair. I’ve been told £505 + vat as against last year’s price of £405 + vat. If these figures are correct, what’s an extra £100 + vat? I’m sure if the FFMDD think at all about where the producers this extra money, it just seems they don’t care. – not their problem is it? Producers cannot reply on selling more to visitors who are more than well aware that they are struggling in the midst of a recession and have no choice but to watch their spending. Visitors will not have plenty of cash to spare and will certainly tempted to troll the Food Hall just to fill themselves and their children up with free samples, I can guarantee that! It’s not difficult to work out who’s living in a bubble, because it’s certainly not the food producers, is it?

Producers are now having to find an extra £50.00 for each day’s trading and still hope to make money, how they’ll do that is anyone’s guess. What’s the reason for this increase? It appears that FFMMD don’t feel they need to explain any decisions they make. This is getting more like a dictatorship than a dialogue with the producers.   

I think a stand at the Royal Welsh this year was £405 + vat for 4 days trading, so unless  the latest figures I have been given for the Winter Fair are wrong, I’m horrified that RWAS/FFMDD can justify such an increase to their Winter Fair stand prices.

I’ve just been on RWAS’s website and checked out prices in South Glamorgan Hall – which is for Agri Products and machinery. To take a stand there is £240.17 + vat per module, which is quite a difference from Food Hall stand prices. It appears that RWAS bows to the farmers and farming companies, but allows FFMDD to lumber the producers with an over-the-top increase in fees.

But fret not producers,Welsh Country, Best Of Welsh & Borders and welshfoodbites are here to help you and FFMDD are there to help you too!

 
2 Comments

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Promotion & Marketing Of Food Festivals

17 Aug

Since I sent around our Best Of Welsh & Borders producers the Welsh Government list of funding to food festivals, there have been a lot more questions being asked as to what many of them do with their money. Well I have to say there’s no point asking me, if they want to know they must ask the organisers themselves. As you would expect they all work very differently, have vastly varying priorities and obviously varying amounts of experience of putting on festivals.

I have no idea at all what guidance or maybe restrictions that the government sets on how ‘their’ money is spent, or if that happens. But I do think it is more than time that some priorities were laid down for funded festivals. I think we can all agree that food festivals must have food as their core activity which must therefore mean that food is the priority, which means that producers are paramount. Sadly we know that at many events this is simply not the case. But unless producers vote with their feet and don’t attend, or Wag makes an effort to improve all festivals, producers are in a difficult situation.

One suggestion that I have been thinking about is that a well established, professional producer is invited onto their local festival committee. Their role will be to inform the committee the basics that traders must have and I’m looking at electric that doesn’t fail within the first hour – that’s even if it gets connected in the first place, and traders are not paying through the nose for the ‘honour’  of having that vital power supply. A couple of portable toilets placed near the traders – just for them, so that those having to work solo don’t have to waste precious selling time going on a country hike to take a natural break! They could help on layout of stands as they have a must better idea of traffic flow than anyone, noise levels for music, parking vans, loading and off-loading, number of similar stands – these are all issues that can make a traders life easier or make them feel that this is the last time they waste their hard earned cash at this event. I’m sure they’ll also have lots of additional ideas that would make their event special, not just for them, but for the public too. The trader representative could be the official spokesperson for the event and maybe this would will take pressure away from the organisers and help the event run more smoothly.

There always seem to be complaints from traders about festivals but after running them for years shouldn’t the bulk of the troubles have now been sorted? I know that festivals are run basically by volunteers, but the fact no-one can run away from is that festivals are much-needed income for traders. They are not attending to pay for an exotic holiday, they’re attending to pay their mortgages, pay their council tax and feed their kids. I’m positive that life for organisers would be much easier if communication was better between them and the traders. I am still wondering why traders pay their money but quite often have no idea where they will be sited. Would it be too difficult for organisers to issue a site plan with the tradestands shown and traders can book where they wish. Of course that means that there would be some flexibility in stand prices as those with better traffic flow would be charged at a premium, whilst those on the out edges would be slightly cheaper. Would this work? I know I have had lots of moans about Abergavenny again this year not only from those that couldn’t get accepted but those who have been placed in an area they’d rather not be in. Some organisers have told me that a few traders could be difficult and although you do occasionally get unprofessional guys on the circuit, I just explain, quite patiently, that this is their livelihood and the majority just want to earn some decent money.   

At an event this year with very low attendance, I was asked what this festival has done about advertising and marketing. Well that was another question I couldn’t answer apart from the fact they weren’t advertising with Welsh Country, which meant that wouldn’t have sent details around our Best Of Welsh & Borders producers, put up on Welsh Country website or done any editorial in a relevant issue. So I would assume it was local advertising, if any. I’m sure I’m right on my guess that traders, when they book their space, ask what Promotion & Marketing the organisers are going to do, they simply hope and trust that the organisers will have a plan on how to get people into the event – fingers crossed!!!

I’m not 100% sure, but I understand that organisers are allowed to use their own judgement on Promotion & Marketing as they are not directed by Wag, but I must finish off by sharing this story with you. As we finish off our September/October issue, we contacted Conwy Food Festival to see if they wished to work with us, but were told: no we get lots of local editorial and the Welsh Government look after us very well with funding.” Well there’s lots of truth in that with Wag giving them £41k this year, the same amount as they received last year – so lucky Conwy, no budget cuts there, wonder if tradestand prices have come down as they are so financially well looked by Wag.

Abergavenny,Cardiffand Conwy were festivals I have highlighted as being fortunate in not having their funding cut this year and querying why. It was only when we downloaded the Miller Research report that to get around high funding for these three festivals, that they are now classed as ‘Flagship National Events’ and so I guess they can continue to feel confident that Wag will continue to look at this trio very well.  Think to summarise it’s down to the producers to speak up if they are not happy and make suggestions for improvements, but I know a few are reluctant to do this as they feel they wont get a stand the following year of be stuck out on the edge. I don’t wish to say they can’t win, I simply think we must just find ways to improve.

 
6 Comments

Posted in Uncategorized

 
« Older Entries