Food and Drink Wales plan for green growth in food manufacturing available now

Food and Drink Wales plan for Green Growth in food and drink manufacturing has been published this week following a launch by Jane Hutt at the recent Taste Wales conference.

'Doing Better Business - Opportunities for Welsh Food and Drink Manufacturers in Responsible and Green Growth' is written by Iain Cox of Ecostudio, with Welsh Government officials from Food and Drink Wales and with support from the industry.

This business-friendly publication sets out how the Welsh Governments intention for an environmentally and socially responsible food and drink sector is bringing commercial advantages to Welsh food manufacturers.

• it demonstrates how the Welsh food and drink industry is set benefit from the Welsh Government Food Action Plan and Future Generations legislation.
• it features best practice examples from Welsh food and drink manufacturers and trade buyers, including: Parsnipship, Ty Tanglwyst Dairy, Puffin Produce, Fruitapeel, Bangor Mussel Producers and NHS Wales.
• it describes the support available to Welsh food and drink manufacturers, including the Sustainable Business Review. A free online self-assessment that is helping 100s of small food companies to report their sustainable credentials to customers, and numerous trade buyers to meet CSR and legislation by assessing the sustainability of their suppliers.

Iain Cox the publication's author and Director of Ecostudio says:

"The UK marketplace for sustainably produced food and drink provides Welsh businesses with opportunities for growth. Driven by an increasing consumer appetite and new legislation, buyers from retail, wholesale and the public sector are actively seeking suppliers that can help them meet this growing market demand.

This was worth £8.64billion to the UK economy in 2014, up from £6.6billion in 2010*

Doing Better Business illustrates how the Welsh Governments plans for green growth are being put into practice by leading Welsh food and drink manufacturers and it gives a practical insight for how food and drink manufacturers  can take advantage of new opportunities for growth."

*according to UK Ethical Market Annual Report

Contact / further information:

Iain Cox

iain@ecostudio.org.uk

08452 696105

www.ecostudio.org.uk

This publication is available to download on Business Wales website by clicking here

Food businesses wanted for international publication

Sustainable food is worth £8.64billion to the UK economy. 

Driven by increasing consumer appetite and new legislation, buyers from retail, wholesale and the public sector are actively seeking suppliers that can help them meet this growing market demand.

Ecostudio is preparing a publication for the Welsh Government to promote how innovative food businesses profit through brands, products and services that benefit the environment and local communities.

We are seeking up to 10 food businesses from Wales to be included in this publication.

This is a free promotional opportunity. Please get in touch before 5pm Friday 17^th February 2017

Contact:

Iain Cox

m: 07827 815876
e: iain@ecostudio.org.uk

Sustainable business toolkit for food SMEs launched at Royal Welsh Show

The Sustainable Business Review is a new self assessment for food companies led by Ecostudio as part of a 5 year partnership programme funded through the EU and Welsh Government.

Flyers designed for the Show

Susie, Lucy and Iain were at the Royal Welsh Show to promote the toolkit to exhibitors in a busy food hall. Around 50 food businesses are now signed up and we're looking forward to helping them to take advantage of the opportunities that the growing marketplace for sustainable food provides.

Bottles of award winning Welsh bubbly are also up for grabs for businesses that register for the Review by 7 August 2015 (not to mention the free sustainable business report they receive when its complete!).

We'll be announcing the winning companies very soon....pls check back.

Abergavenny Food Conference - a talk by Iain Cox with Debbie Handley of the RRU Community Food Co-ops

We were delighted to deliver a talk at the Abergavenny Food Conference last month alongside some inspirational speakers covering a broad range of topics about innovation in local food.

Hosted by Miller Research and now in it's 8th year the Conference is an integral part of the the annual, award winning, Abergavenny Food Festival.

Click here to watch us on YouTube.

Here's the blurb:

How doing business sustainably helps small food enterprises gain commercial advantage

Many food enterprises play a positive role in local communities and the environment. All too often however these efforts go unnoticed and growth opportunities are missed.

This talk draws on Ecostudio's work supporting small businesses to demonstrate their contribution to sustainable development.

It includes a working example of the RRU Community Food Co-ops 10 point sustainability plan.