Welsh Food and Drink Producers Embrace Doing Business Virtually

Food & Drink Technology

Rural Enterprise , 24th February 2021

With international travel not a viable option at the moment due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Welsh food and drink companies are embracing the new way of doing business virtually.

With the largest uptake of producers signed up to its virtual Trade Development Visit programme, the Welsh Government is supporting twenty five members of its Export Club to attend two virtual Trade Development Visits targeting Switzerland and Canada in February and March.

The virtual Trade Development Visits provide producers with a unique opportunity to make connections with prospective buyers, distributors and importers in a fraction of the time a physical Trade Development Visit demands.

Each participating company has a detailed itinerary of scheduled one to one calls with an in-market partner, followed by a market briefing and one to one meetings with pre-qualified buyers, importers and distributors, all done via video conference facilities.

Export is particularly important for the Welsh hospitality industry at the moment in such challenging times and Russ Honeyman, Commercial Director for Monty’s Brewery in Powys sees these two virtual Trade Development visits as vital for the business,

“This is a great opportunity to expand our export opportunities. In these tough times in the home market with pubs and bars closed, by participating in a virtual Trade Development Visit we can get our products in front of other markets without the need to travel. It is a new way of doing business abroad and I am looking forward to seeing the results”.

The UK has signed a trade agreement with Switzerland, while the UK-Canada trade deal will secure tariff-free trading on 98% of goods.

Lesley Griffiths, the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, said

“The Welsh food and drink sector has reacted to the current crisis with a characteristically innovative spirit, and a readiness to take advantage of new ways of working.

“During the global Covid-19 pandemic, international travel has become less and less of a practical option for our exporters – however, our virtual Trade Development Visit programme has posed an increasingly attractive alternative for companies who may have to physically stay in their home countries, but are still determined to highlight their products to international audiences.”

To read the whole article please click here

https://businessnewswales.com/welsh-food-and-drink-producers-embrace-doing-business-virtually/

Great British Food Awards 2020

HIGHLY COMMENDED AT GREAT BRITISH FOOD AWARDS

Monty’s Brewery are excited to announce that their Gluten Free stout ‘Dark Secret’ has been awarded ‘Highly Commended’ at this year’s prestigious Great British Food Awards 2020.  “It is an absolute honour to receive this award particularly with so much other competition out there”, said Russ Honeyman, Commercial Director

The Brewery set out to create a great tasting gluten free stout that everyone could enjoy, without compromising on flavour. Dark Secret is a rich full-bodied stout with hints of chocolate and coffee it’s brewed with barley and oats but with the gluten removed. Receiving this Great British Food Award clearly shows they got it right

Monty’s Dark Secret has won many awards including 3 gold star awards with Great Taste Awards for two consecutive years,  Silver at the London Beer Competition, Bronze at the Free From Food Awards

Magnitude, their 8% barley wine was also a finalist in the competition. This indulgent beer is full of sweet, malty characteristics and warming alcohol, perfect for sipping in front of the fire on a cold evening.

Russ Honeyman Commercial Director said “to have two beers as finalists and one of them to receive ‘Highly Commended’ is a testament to the skill and hard work of our staff and brewers at the Brewery. Dark Secret has been winning prizes consistently since we began brewing it in 2016. Awards like the Great British Food Awards enable us to secure sales not only in the UK but as far as Finland and Singapore”.

Dark Secret and all of Monty’s range can be purchased from our Website https://www.montysbrewery.co.uk/products-page or you can telephone 01686 668933 to place your order for home delivery. If you are local to Montgomery why not pop along and enjoy a pint in our visitor centre ‘The Cottage’.

Monty's at Pub19

Monty's Brewery at pub19 this week showcasing our beers, and sampling some too! On the Drinks Cluster Wales stand, on the stand a selection of grest Welsh breweries, cider, soft drinks and spirits. All fantastic Welsh producuts. We poured our double 3 gold star Great Taste winning gluten free oatmeal stout Dark Secret.

Dark Secret gets 3 Gold Stars

Our gluten free beer Dark Secret was one of only five beers that won the coverted Three Gold Stars at this years Great Taste Awards. Comments such as "cleverly constructed" and "Excellent" were just some of the comments the judges gave.