Welsh food and drink producers are preparing to travel across the pond for North America’s largest specialist food and drink marketplace, the Summer Fancy Food Show.
Traditionally held in New York, this year’s event will be hosted by the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in the US capital, Washington DC.
Exhibiting at the event in the Welsh Government organised True Taste of Wales pavilion will be five Welsh companies: Llanllyr Water, Kealth Foods Ltd, The Anglesey Sea Salt Company, The Patchwork Traditional Food Company, and Wholebake Ltd.
Now in its 57th year the Show attracts more than 2,400 exhibitors showing 180,000 products from over 80 countries; and, for more than half a century, the Summer and Winter Fancy Food Shows have been North America’s largest specialist food and drink market place.
The Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Alun Davies said:
“The Summer Fancy Food Show has been a feature of the international culinary calendar for more than half a century, and I am very pleased to see Welsh food and drink companies continuing to take part in such an important world-wide showcase.
“The True Taste of Wales pavilion highlights some of the fantastic produce we have to offer, and I hope many of the show’s visitors will take the opportunity to sample and learn more about our award-winning food and drink, and perhaps think about visiting Wales and experiencing the warm – and flavour-filled – welcome awaiting them.”
Winner of numerous awards, including for export, Llanllyr Water is served at top restaurants and hotels around the world.The water is drawn from certified organic land and Llanllyr will shortly become a carbon neutral company. The company was recently accredited with a Green Dragon Award, which recognises effective environmental management, by companies. In Washington DC Llanllyr will be exhibiting its premium spring water, which is produced in still and sparkling variants in glass bottles (750ml, 500ml, 330ml) and 100% recyclable cans (330ml). However, behind the contemporary product is a centuries old story as the water’s source is on land used by a Cistercian nunnery over 800 years ago, and indeed St Madomonic is said to have established a hermitage on the site in the 6th century.
Baby and specialist meal producer, Kealth Foods Ltd, will be exhibiting its own brand of baby food – Truly Scrummy Organic – which it plans to launch into the US market. Carefully developed for babies’ budding tastes and needs, and featuring traditional recipes and quality organic ingredients, Truly Scrummy Organic is currently available in Sainsbury’s stores. Kealth Foods has become the most experienced baby food manufacturer in the UK using ambient, sterile pouches; manufacturing for leading baby food brands such as Ella’s Kitchen, Organix, Little Dish and Zilli, as well as Asda. The company was originally established to produce dysphagic meals for patients in hospitals – dysphagia being any form of swallowing and chewing difficulties. It is now a leading supplier to the NHS, its range also including allergy aware meals, vegan meals and meals for patients with kidney problems.
The Anglesey Sea Salt Company hand harvests sea salt from the Menai Straits on the North Wales coast. The company’s Halen Môn sea salt range is used by top chefs and restaurants across the world who use it in savoury and sweet dishes alike. The family-run business also creates stunning taste sensations by blending the salt with spices and smoking it over Welsh oak. New to the range is the Halen Môn Ceramic Sea Salt jar. Ready packed with 100g pure white flakes of Halen Môn Sea Salt, it includes a special commemorative limited edition variety containing salt harvested on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding day, along with an on-line competition. Sold on line, in delicatessens, national UK retailers Marks & Spencer and Waitrose, Halen Môn can be found across the globe in 22 countries – including the US.
One of the UK’s oldest artisan family food producers The Patchwork Traditional Food Company’s story began nearly 30 years ago when mother of three Margaret Carter started making pâté at her home in Ruthin, North Wales to supplement her family’s income. Three decades later Patchwork has become a multi-award-winning company selling its range of pâtés, pies, terrines, relishes, desserts and ice creams at home and abroad, online at www.patchwork-pate.co.uk, with the pâtés also available in retailers in the tri-state area of the US. Although now manufactured in commercial kitchens instead of Margaret’s home, the family-run company has maintained the same production ethos – all the products are hand-made in small batches with no artificial colourings, additives or preservatives, and follows Margaret’s dedication to ‘delighting lovers of fine food.’ At the Summer Fancy Food Show, Patchwork will beshowing three chicken liver pâtés (Brandy and herb, Mushroom & Garlic, Tequila & Cranberry) along with four vegetarian pâtés (Sun Dried Tomato, Stilton & Guinness, and Spinach & Nutmeg, Snowdonia Cheddar with Welsh Ale & Chives), Smoked Salmon mousse, and for the sweet-toothed a Chocolate Terrine with Baileys Irish Cream.
Healthy snackbar producer Wholebake Ltd will be showing it’s newly re-branded natural seed bars, 9bar. The uniquely nutritious range of 100% natural seed bars sell in over 3,000 outlets including major UK supermarkets. High in polyunsaturates with no-transfats 9bars are suitable for vegetarians and are gluten, dairy and wheat free.
