A centre of excellence for Welsh food is going head to head with top shops like Harrods and Fortnum & Mason after launching a range of luxury hampers.
Chris Morton, the Managing Director of Bodnant Welsh Food, believes that by challenging established suppliers with its own high quality packages they are enabling artisan food producers to reach a whole new group of discerning customers.
Bodnant Welsh Food, set in the beautiful Conwy Valley, is located in a building dating from the 18th century which has been lovingly restored and includes a farm shop, tea room, restaurant, cookery school, and farmhouse accommodation.
The centre was officially opened by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in 2012.
Chris said: “I’m well aware that the hamper market is one which isn’t short of competition.
“In fact, it’s very hard-fought by the likes of Harrods, Fortnum & Mason and a whole wealth of other suppliers, including some very well-known farm shops.
“But as overcrowded as the market is, we do not believe that anyone at the moment is effectively promoting Welsh food in the form of hampers.
“Bodnant is in an area which is rich in artisan producers and we all deserve a share of the hamper market.
“We believe that we can help many of the producers who supply Bodnant to reach new customers through the development and growth of the hamper business.
“Our aim is to promote the best in Wales and we have been in contact with a number of our key suppliers and asked them to prepare unique products based on local Welsh produce which will enable us to sell the very best that is available throughout the UK.”
Bodnant Hampers range in price from £20 to over £250 and come in a wide range of presentations based on different themes, such as chocolate, sparkling wine and chocolate, gourmet, lovers, Christmas and Easter.
The hampers also contain an assortment of products all hand crafted on site at Bodnant, either in the dairy, the bakery or the butchery.
Amongst the most popular of the hampers, which are available at the farmshop or online, is the Welsh Artisan Food Hamper at £59.99, which includes such hand-made treats as elderflower cordial, Bodnant Lemon Curd, Bodnant Aberwen Cheese, apple blossom honey, Welsh teabags and Eboni ac Eifori Fudge.
One of the most expensive hampers, at £209.95, in the range is the Luxury Bodnant Welsh Food Artisan Food Hamper and that’s packed with delicacies including chicken liver and anchovy pate, traditional Welsh lavabread, cockles, cottage butter, honey biscuits and jewelled fruits in Madeira.
And especially for meat lovers is the Bodnant Meats Hamper, at £114.95, brimming over with a mouth-watering selection including Conwy Valley Welsh Black Topside Joint, local free range Gloucesterhire Old Spot Pork Leg Joint and home cured Free-Range local gammon joint.
For more information about Bodnant Welsh Food, go to: http://www.bodnant-welshfood.co.uk/
