Tesco’s ‘Enjoy the Taste of Wales’ Roadshow, held at Tesco Extra Pontyclun Talbot Green last week (29 Feb – 1 Mar 2012) attracted more than 3,000 visitors, who came to sample some of Wales’ very best food and drink.
The free-to-attend family event showcased Tesco’s local suppliers and their delicious Welsh produce. Visitors were able to watch cookery demonstrations from one of Wales’ finest cooks Hazel Thomas and take a culinary tour of the region, browsing stalls, meeting producers and sampling food and drink from all over Wales.
Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Alun Davies AM, visited the event on St David’s Day, commenting: “I thoroughly enjoyed tasting the wonderful food and drink on offer at the event. Events like these show just how good Welsh food is and how accessible it is for ordinary shoppers. Welsh food is widely available in supermarkets, farm shops, and delicatessens across the nation and even online so there is plenty of opportunity to buy local food and to support the Welsh economy while doing the weekly shop.”
Some of the teatime visitors on St David’s Day were entertained by mascots from suppliers Braces Bakery, Puffin, Welsh Pantry and Proper Welsh Milk, in a giant egg and spoon race, won by the Drunken Cow from Welsh Pantry.
Mark Grant, local sourcing senior buying manager for Tesco’s, said: “It is great to be able to run such an exciting event, showcasing high quality Welsh produce being offered to a mass market. The Tesco regional team has a very tight bond with our Welsh suppliers and together we are pushing regionality forward and showing an increase in sales year on year.”
Tesco is the largest private sector employer in Wales, working with more than 16,000 people across its 97 food stores, Magor distribution centre and Cardiff head office. Working with 70 suppliers in the region and stocking over 560 different Welsh products, sales of Welsh products through Welsh stores reached £100 million last year.
Tesco’s dedicated local sourcing office in Wales helps identify and support small, local suppliers. This event also presented Welsh producers who are not yet working with Tesco with an opportunity to showcase their products and meet with the Welsh buying team.
See more at www.tesco.com/local.
