This year’s Wales Food Fortnight has provided a virtual launch pad for food and drink businesses in Wales as they set their sights on increased global trade in 2021.
Wales Food Fortnight is part of Wales Week Worldwide, an annual showcase of activities and events that celebrate and promote Wales on an international stage.
The festival usually takes place across 20 countries, but due to coronavirus restrictions, it meant a more virtual focus to this year’s activities, which played host to a series of cookery demonstrations, talks and competitions, as the very best of Welsh food and drink was showcased to a global audience from February 20 – March 7.
‘Difficult challenges over the past year’
Commenting on the wide range of events taking place in spite of the difficult circumstances, the Welsh government’s Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, said:
It is more important than ever that we continue to support Welsh food and drink businesses as many have faced tremendously difficult challenges over the past year or so.
“I’m delighted to see such a broad range of different activities taking place to promote our thriving industry to an international audience.
“We have a long and proud tradition of producing outstanding food and drink, with an abundance of natural resources and food ingredients, and a concerted focus on developing new technologies and innovation in food production.”
Wales Food Fortnight events, headed by Welsh Produce, was set up in May 2020 due to the events industry shutting down as a result of the pandemic.
All events and activities were hosted and streamed live on the Welsh Produce online platform and featured a live stage with up to 100,000 viewers, plus live streaming to the Wales Produce and Wales Food Fortnight Facebook page; live and recorded sessions including demos, talks and live tours.
Countries reached included the UK; USA; United Arab Emirates; India; Italy; Portugal; Philippines; Ireland; Germany; Algeria; Spain; Canada; Australia; Hungary; Japan; and New Zealand.
