Welsh food and drink companies will be starting the New Year by bringing Welsh flavour to the US at one of North America’s most important food shows.
The seven companies will be exhibiting on the Welsh Assembly Government organised True Taste of Wales stand at the NASFT Winter Fancy Food Show (January 16-18) at the Moscone Convention Centre in San Francisco.
Some of the companies already export to the US and are looking to expand their customer base, whilst others are making their first foray into the US market at time of growing interest in British produce.
The United States is the largest export market for British food and non-alcoholic drinks outside Europe with sales of over £300million in 2009 – a growth of 17% on the previous year.
As a result the US is now placed in the top three growth markets for UK food and drink exports. This continued growth is driven by the US consumers increasing interest in World cuisines and flavours and a heightened awareness of health and wellness issues.
The Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, the West Coast alternative to the New York Fancy Food Show, is the premier international trade event in the US for speciality food products attracting 16,780 buyers at the 2010 event.
Powys based Radnor Hills produces mineral waters and soft drinks in glass and plastic bottles for the hospitality, retail and wholesale sectors. At the show the company will be exhibiting the Duchess Botanicals range which is manufactured in conjunction with the Duchess of Rutland from Belvoir Castle.
Duchess of Rutland Botanicals are an adult soft drink containing fruit juice and botanical essences.
Packed in premium glass bottles they are available in 750ml and 330ml sizes.
The Anglesey Sea Salt Company harvests sea salt, blending it with spices and smokes it over Welsh oak.
Available in 3g from 25kg packs for retail, food service and ingredients markets, the products which will be exhibited in San Francisco include: pure, organic spiced, organic celery, vanilla and oak smoked sea salts. Making its debut will be a new table top dispenser.
The company currently sells to a number of wholesalers in the US, and its salt is featured as a topping on the world famous smoked sea salt caramels made by Fran’s Chocolates for customers such as The White House.
Llanllyr Water sells coast to coast to many of the top restaurants and hotels in the US. The multi award-winning premium spring water company is based near Lampeter in Ceredigion.
Llanllyr produces bottled still and sparkling water in glass (1 litre, 750ml, 500ml, 300ml), PET (500ml, 1.5 litre), and 100% recyclable cans (330ml).
Fayrefield Foods’ award-winning Collier’s Powerful Welsh Cheddar currently retails in a number of West Coast counties, and to emphasise the strong Welsh origins of the brand samples will be offered to visitors by demonstration staff dressed as miners.
The cheese, which is made at Llandyrnog Creamery in North Wales, will be featured in 7oz, 14oz and 5lb (nominal) blocks with grading guidance also available.
South Wales brewery, The Celt Experience is inspired through Celtic history to produce a range of organic ales and a hand crafted lager. The Celt Experience combines modern brewing equipment with ancient Celtic brewing methods, creating flavoursome and holistic beers.
Named after the Bronze Age Celts, Bronze Ale (Alc 4.5% vol) is distinguished by a full bodied character with crystal maltiness. Golden Ale (Alc. 4.2% vol) is a unique blend of traditional and fruity hops and has a mouth-watering taste of citrus fruits with a slightly spicy aroma and is named after the Golden Age of the Celtic people. Bleddyn 1075 (Alc. 7.6% vol) is named after Welsh king Bleddyn ap Cynfyn and is a delicious pale strong ale.
Also being exhibited at San Francisco will be Cwrw Celt/Celt Lager (5% ABV), a slow mashed, hand produced beverage, with a continental hop presence with a refreshing and spicy flavour.
Halo Foods will be exhibiting for the first time at the Winter Show in San Francisco. They will be featuring their extensive range of Cereal Bars, from everyday types of product to the more technical functional and meal replacement.
Also, for the first time they will be featuring their exciting range of Fruit Bars, which includes their award-winning main brand of Fruitus, famous for its key claim of “Equivalent to a Portion of Fruit in Every Bar”. A great deal of innovation has taken place within this range over recent times with the introduction of its “Chunky” Bars and the latest addition of Fruit “Smoothie” Bars, a delicious tasting yoghurt covered bar, available in various flavours and pack formats.
Halo has two established manufacturing sites in Wales, both with BRC Grade A accreditation – Tywyn in North Wales and Newport in South Wales. The company benefits from its industry knowledge and experience of being at the forefront of snack bar innovation for the past 25 years. Halo Foods have recently re-structured their business to provide increased focus upon the overseas market.
Ty Nant Spring Water Ltd has won numerous awards for its still and sparkling spring water and also for the design of their bottles which grace the tables of some of the most discerning hotels and restaurants around the world.
Famed for the now iconic cobalt blue glass bottles the Ty Nant Spring Water range also includes a sensuous crimson red glass bottle (750ml, 330ml) and a ground breaking curvaceous PET (plastic) bottle (500ml, 1Ltr & 1.5Ltr – still )designed by Welsh designer Ross Lovegrove to evoke the natural flows and refreshing nature of water.
An addition to the range is the award winning creation TAU Spring Water famed for its chic minimalist labelling in black and white livery (750ml & 330ml).
While visitors to the show will be able to get information from the True Taste of Wales stand about several other Welsh companies already actively exporting to the US market: Welsh Whisky, Abergavenny Fine Foods, and the Hurns Brewing Company.
