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| UK Great Taste Awards: Expert warns of food firm hurdles | UK Great Taste Awards: Expert warns of food firm hurdles |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Expanding small food producers need more help from ministers to overcome hurdles they face, an industry expert has warned. | Expanding small food producers need more help from ministers to overcome hurdles they face, an industry expert has warned. |
| It comes as 500 examples of the best food and drink from Wales are being judged in Cardiff as part of the UK Great Taste Awards. | It comes as 500 examples of the best food and drink from Wales are being judged in Cardiff as part of the UK Great Taste Awards. |
| Cardiff University's Dr Roberta Sonnino says many firms find it hard to move to the next level and some are taken over. | Cardiff University's Dr Roberta Sonnino says many firms find it hard to move to the next level and some are taken over. |
| The Welsh government said innovation centres were helping producers develop. | The Welsh government said innovation centres were helping producers develop. |
| It has set itself a target of increasing the value of the food and drink industry in Wales by 30% in five years to £7b. | It has set itself a target of increasing the value of the food and drink industry in Wales by 30% in five years to £7b. |
| The sector already accounts for more than 14,000 businesses, most of them small. | The sector already accounts for more than 14,000 businesses, most of them small. |
| Allie Thomas and her daughter Ella set up Cradoc's Savoury Biscuits from home in Brecon, Powys, five years ago. | Allie Thomas and her daughter Ella set up Cradoc's Savoury Biscuits from home in Brecon, Powys, five years ago. |
| But they found it hard to find a larger manufacturer in Wales to work with as they expanded and are now making the crackers in Coventry. | But they found it hard to find a larger manufacturer in Wales to work with as they expanded and are now making the crackers in Coventry. |
| "Our plan was to export widely and make biscuits in volume and get them out of Brecon as far as we could," said Allie Thomas. | "Our plan was to export widely and make biscuits in volume and get them out of Brecon as far as we could," said Allie Thomas. |
| Food and drink exports from Wales are up by 132% since 1999. | Food and drink exports from Wales are up by 132% since 1999. |
| Allie praised the Welsh government for being "brilliant" in their support but said there was a challenge when it came to that next step in production. | Allie praised the Welsh government for being "brilliant" in their support but said there was a challenge when it came to that next step in production. |
| "They [the Welsh government] should talk to people about the next step, the next level - helping to find co-producers, companies who have slack in their system to take on work from small, fledging businesses," she said. | "They [the Welsh government] should talk to people about the next step, the next level - helping to find co-producers, companies who have slack in their system to take on work from small, fledging businesses," she said. |
| FROM SCOTCH EGGS TO CHILLI SAUCE - A TASTE OF WALES | FROM SCOTCH EGGS TO CHILLI SAUCE - A TASTE OF WALES |
| Judges have been sampling almost 500 products from 143 producers in Cardiff over nearly three days. | Judges have been sampling almost 500 products from 143 producers in Cardiff over nearly three days. |
| The event, part of UK Great Taste Awards, will culminate in final decisions next month before announcements in August. | The event, part of UK Great Taste Awards, will culminate in final decisions next month before announcements in August. |
| This is an opportunity to showcase the best of Wales' food and drink. | This is an opportunity to showcase the best of Wales' food and drink. |
| "If I'm honest, I've been to 32 of these now and this has been the best day so far," said one judge. | "If I'm honest, I've been to 32 of these now and this has been the best day so far," said one judge. |
| "Lots of jams and chocolate - Wales is more than just lamb and laverbread." | "Lots of jams and chocolate - Wales is more than just lamb and laverbread." |
| An evening event gave them a chance to meet half a dozen producers. | An evening event gave them a chance to meet half a dozen producers. |
| These included a family dairy farm which decided to start branding and selling their own milk and butter locally and now employs 16 people. | These included a family dairy farm which decided to start branding and selling their own milk and butter locally and now employs 16 people. |
| Also there was a convenience store business, which turned making spicy vegetarian food for family and friends into a business producing onion bhajee Scotch eggs and Glamorgan sausages for delis, two supermarket chains and catering to schools and stadiums. | |
| Tee Sandhu of Sim's Foods in Pontyclun, which makes the food under the Samosaco brand, said the support had been "fantastic". | Tee Sandhu of Sim's Foods in Pontyclun, which makes the food under the Samosaco brand, said the support had been "fantastic". |
| The firm is also benefiting from a link-up with Cardiff Metropolitan University, which has a Zero2Five food industry centre providing a nutrition graduate two days a week with the view to getting a permanent job. | The firm is also benefiting from a link-up with Cardiff Metropolitan University, which has a Zero2Five food industry centre providing a nutrition graduate two days a week with the view to getting a permanent job. |
| John Farrand from the Guild of Fine Food, which runs the awards, said: "Fine food can be a pork pie or lemon curd, simple things made really well by people who are bothered - and there are plenty of producers in Wales who are bothered about making great food." | John Farrand from the Guild of Fine Food, which runs the awards, said: "Fine food can be a pork pie or lemon curd, simple things made really well by people who are bothered - and there are plenty of producers in Wales who are bothered about making great food." |
| Some of our best known Welsh food labels over the past few years have been taken over. Rachel's Dairy is now French; Brecon Carreg is Belgian and Ty Nant is Italian. | Some of our best known Welsh food labels over the past few years have been taken over. Rachel's Dairy is now French; Brecon Carreg is Belgian and Ty Nant is Italian. |
| So why do successful entrepreneurs sell their businesses, meaning the profits no longer stay in Wales? | So why do successful entrepreneurs sell their businesses, meaning the profits no longer stay in Wales? |
| Dr Sonnino said Welsh producers need more support as they develop. | Dr Sonnino said Welsh producers need more support as they develop. |
| "Do small producers have access to credit, to networking? Are there opportunities for collaboration and availability of business support?" she said. | "Do small producers have access to credit, to networking? Are there opportunities for collaboration and availability of business support?" she said. |
| "We're second to none in this country for pilot schemes and initiatives but innovations must be sustained over time. People need to feel supported in their efforts." | "We're second to none in this country for pilot schemes and initiatives but innovations must be sustained over time. People need to feel supported in their efforts." |
| Dr Sonnino also believes Welsh produce should be used as much as possible in the public sector, including schools, hospitals and care homes. | Dr Sonnino also believes Welsh produce should be used as much as possible in the public sector, including schools, hospitals and care homes. |
| Deputy Minister for Farming and Food, Rebecca Evans, said there were "ambitious plans" for the industry, including money to showcase produce abroad and support to help grow businesses. | Deputy Minister for Farming and Food, Rebecca Evans, said there were "ambitious plans" for the industry, including money to showcase produce abroad and support to help grow businesses. |
| "We have innovation centres in north and south Wales to help small producers develop their products into something supermarkets and consumers want to buy. | "We have innovation centres in north and south Wales to help small producers develop their products into something supermarkets and consumers want to buy. |
| "We also hold regular meet-the-buyer events for our smaller products to be brought together with buyers from supermarkets, retailers and the hospitality industry - and we keep in touch and we do know contracts are being exchanged." | "We also hold regular meet-the-buyer events for our smaller products to be brought together with buyers from supermarkets, retailers and the hospitality industry - and we keep in touch and we do know contracts are being exchanged." |