A delegation of seven Welsh food and drink companies are set to visit Paris next week as part of the Welsh Government’s Food and Drink Wales Trade Development Visit. The Welsh companies will showcase their products to distributors and retail buyers in an effort to strengthen and build ties with prospective partners and investors. France is the second largest export market for Welsh food and drink, making the visit an ideal opportunity to promote Welsh produce ahead of the Rugby World Cup set to take place there later this year.
The companies taking part in the trade development visit include Cradoc’s Savoury Biscuits, Cwmfarm Charcuterie Products, Hensol Castle Distillery, In the Welsh Wind, Meridian Foods, Sims Foods Limited – SamosaCo and Tŷ Nant.
During the visit, delegates will have an opportunity to showcase their products to selected buyers, importers, and distributors. This will be done through a series of in-market briefings, store visits, and meet the buyer opportunities. The aim of the visit is to leverage networking and collaboration opportunities between the producers, Welsh Government, and France as well as strengthening business, trade, and tourism relationships.
Export support is available to all food and drink businesses, and the Welsh Government is keen to support companies in Wales as exports for the sector have grown in the past decade. Lesley Griffiths, Welsh Government Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales, and Trefnydd said, “It’s great Welsh companies have this opportunity to showcase their fantastic products and to build new working relationships in France ahead of the Rugby World Cup.”
The French market is sophisticated, with an appreciation for quality and traceability. France’s imports of goods rose by 21.2% in 2021, while they have the fifth-largest packaged food market globally. Increasingly, France is opening up to international flavours.
The visit will include meetings with retail and foodservice sector buyers, providing an opportunity for Welsh companies to explore new trading partnerships in the region. There will also be a retail market tour, including a visit to Rungis Market, the largest wholesale food market which serves the Paris metropolitan area and beyond, and is said to be the largest food market in the world.
Unlocking new markets brings greater opportunities for businesses to not only showcase their quality produce around the world but also to generate more revenue and increase profits. Welsh companies, such as Cradoc’s Savoury Biscuits, Cwmfarm Charcuterie Products, and Meridian Foods, are looking to invest in and review product placement ahead of the Rugby World Cup. The Trade Mission will give them a fantastic opportunity to put their products in front of potential buyers.
