This week, 16 of South Wales’ food and drink makers met Morrisons at an event in the region in an attempt to gain a place on the supermarket’s shelves.
Morrisons announced the search for local suppliers in February after research found that customers want to see more food and drink made and produced ‘just down the road’ from their communities.
More than 70 producers from across Wales applied to take part in the regional programme. The best 16 suppliers were then invited to Llanarth Village hall in Llanarth, South Wales on Monday 12th June where they pitched to Morrisons buyers, customers and local store colleagues.
The supermarket already stocks lots of the foods Wales is famous for, from Welsh cakes, Welsh lamb and beef to Shirgar butter, Colliers cheese and in-store baked bara brith.
Matt Trigg, Morrisons Local Solutions Manager for Wales said: “Wales has a long history of great, local food and the producers we’ve seen today have been no exception. After seeing the quality of the food here this week, we’re keen to put even more food made in South Wales on our customers’ plates.”
Local foodmakers who attended the event in Llanarth on Monday included: Clams Cakes, an artisan bakery based in Ebbw Vale who hand make cakes with fresh, local ingredients; Hallet Cider, produced by hand at Blaengawney Farm using a blend of Welsh cider apples. It is made using both the traditional fermentation method, with the addition of juice which is fermented using a rarely applied method called Keeving; and The Little Welsh Deli, who make a range of Welsh pasties from locally sourced ingredients.
The suppliers who Morrisons think have what it takes to supply its stores will now be invited to a final round at the supermarket’s head office in Bradford.
