Welsh companies embark on food and drink trade visit to Canada

Fourteen leading Welsh food and drink companies are preparing their goods to be part of the first Welsh food and drink trade visit to ‘the land of the maple leaf’.

The visit to Toronto (26-30 September), which is supported by the Welsh Government’s Food and Drink Wales, will provide food and drink producers, ranging from brewers, bakers and meat processors, with an insight into the Canadian market and provide opportunities to meet national food and drink buyers from across the country.

Commenting ahead of the visit, the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths AM, said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our producers to be able to showcase some of the most exciting Welsh products on offer while exploring new markets and building further connections with international businesses. These visits provide companies with an invaluable insight into how they can tailor and package their products accordingly.

“We have a clear ambition in our Food & Drink Action Plan to grow the industry in Wales by 30% to 7 billion by the year 2020 by working in partnership with industry. The Action Plan underpins our aspirations and our continued support to Welsh producers through our commitment to high-profile overseas visits, such as this upcoming Canadian expedition. Our food and drink is world class and we are confident that the Canadian market will not be disappointed with its quality.” 

The Canadian market offers excellent opportunities for Welsh food and drink companies. Canadian buyers continue to look to the UK for both traditional and innovative products especially in the areas of healthy eating and ‘free-from’, natural and organic, convenience and snacking – including bakery and confectionery – as well as craft beers and ciders both for retail (brands and own label) and food service.

Samosaco, based in Pontyclun, South Wales is a leading producer of a range of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free Indian products. Samosaco boasts the only purpose-built samosa making factory in Wales. They started out as a family-run business in Toronto in the early 1980s before moving to Wales a few years later.

Sokhy Sandhu of Samosaco is looking forward to returning to the company’s roots and sees this as the perfect opportunity to explore their business further in this market,

“As a company we are no strangers to the Canadian market, but this trade visit is of particular interest to us as potential export markets as it allows us to go back to where it all began. Hopefully what this visit will do is give us the chance to reinforce the ethics and passion we have for authentic traditional samosas to the Canadian market and I hope that our products will prove to be as popular there as they are here.”

Another company on the trade visit looking to expand into new markets is Wrexham Lager Beer Company, a brewery originally founded in 1882 but relaunched as a micro-brewery in 2011. The lager is the original recipe and the same ingredients using the latest technology from Kaspar-Schultz, Germany, resulting in a smooth, light and refreshing lager.

Mark Roberts of Wrexham Lager said:

“We are keen to expand and start exporting our products into the Canadian export market. It is a perfect stepping stone to help us gain some experience in this field. It provides us with a wonderful opportunity to meet with key buyers and to pick-up advice along the way in order to establish solid contracts to boost confidence and sales.”

Highlights of the visit will include a Meet the Buyer event which will provide companies with an opportunity to present to selected retail and foodservice buyers. The event will also provide the opportunity for a showcase of Welsh food and drink products in addition to accompanied store visits, a market briefing and a trade networking event.

The companies on the Trade Development Visit to Canada are:

• The Gower Brewery Company Ltd
• Otley Brewing Company
• Purple Moose Brewery Ltd
• Wrexham Lager Beer Co Ltd
• Burts Biscuits & Cakes Ltd
• Dawn Meats UK
• Lizi’s Granola (Good Carb Food)
• Sim’s Foods Ltd – Samosaco

Showcase companies (The following companies will have products in the Showcase and will be represented by the Welsh Government. They will not be attending in person):

• The Coconut Kitchen (CK Food and Drink Ltd)
• The Anglesey Sea Salt Company/Halen Môn
• The Mushroom Garden Snowdonia/Yr Ardd Fadarch Eryri
• The Abergavenny Fine Food Co
• Adwell Foods (Welsh Brew Tea)
• Selwyn’s