Rebecca Evans welcomes new Food and Drink Industry Board for Wales

The Board will provide strategic direction to Government on the delivery of ‘Towards Sustainable Growth: An Action Plan for the Food and Drink Industry 2014-2020’.

The plan has been, and continues to be, about action. It is predicated on partnership between government and industry.

Rebecca Evans said,

 “The Board is the voice of the industry, for businesses of all sizes and for the supply chain.  It is vital that a shared responsibility is developed between Government and industry and this is where I see the Board playing a major part.

“We are a pro-business government, working closely with companies to create growth and jobs in every part of Wales. We have established an overarching and challenging target of 30% growth in sales by 2020 and we are on course to achieve this target.

“The latest priority sector statistics for farming and food reported £5.8bn turnover which means that we have already achieved 11.5% growth since 2012-13”.

Interim Chair, Robin Jones who started the important work of providing the industry in Wales with a dynamic, industry-driven voice has now stepped down to focus on his company at this important time in its development. Board members will soon elect a Permanent Chair.

The members are:

• Norma Barry, InsideOut Organisational Solutions,
• Annitta Engel, D.B.G.E Limited,
• Catherine Fookes, Organic Trade Board,
• Justine Sarah Fosh, Improve,
• Buster Grant, Brecon Brewing,
• Alison Lea-Wilson, Halen Môn,
• David Lloyd, ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre,
• Katie Palmer, Sustainable Food Cardiff,
• Llior Radford, Llaeth y Llan,
• Andy Richardson, Volac,
• Justin Scale, Capstone Organic,
• Marcus Sherreard, Dawn Meats,
• Huw Thomas, Puffin Produce
• James Wilson, Welsh Fishermen’s Association.

Further information regarding the Industry Board can be found via the new Food and Drink Wales website (external link)