Blas Cymru/Taste Wales: the essential platform for Welsh food and drink producers
Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Jack Sargeant MS.
The Welsh food and drink industry’s impressive growth — which saw turnover increase by 10% to £10.2 billion and exports rise to £839 million in 2024 — is set to continue thanks to the opening of Blas Cymru/Taste Wales 2025.
Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Jack Sargeant MS, officially opened Wales’ flagship trade event at the ICC Wales, Celtic Manor, emphasising its role as the industry’s premier platform for global success.
Blas Cymru/Taste Wales is a biennial showcase specifically designed to connect Welsh excellence with international buying power. The two-day event brings together over 150 Welsh food and drink producers; around 300 invited buyers from across the world; and more than 3,000 Welsh products on display, including over 200 new product ranges.
Across the two-days, the event will host a packed programme of buyer meetings, product showcases, and networking opportunities. Highlights include structured visits for chefs exploring Geographical Indication (GI) products, study tours with Cywain and the Centre for African Entrepreneurship, and displays from the Seafood, Honey, and Horticulture Clusters, as well as the Welsh Vineyards Association.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to sample dishes prepared by the Culinary Association of Wales, vote for the most exciting new product, and connect with suppliers during dedicated meeting slots and evening networking events.
The event also features the Rising Star Market Place, a dedicated space to connect with up-and-coming suppliers, offering buyers a chance to discover the next big names in Welsh food and drink.
In 2024, the Welsh food and drink sector experienced an increase from 2023, with turnover increasing by £945m (10% from £9.3bn to £10.2bn. [1]. Exports also increased in 2024 compared to 2023, rising from £813m to £839m, an increase of 3% (£26m).
Minister Sargeant underscored the event’s commercial impact: “Blas Cymru/Taste Wales 2025 is a celebration of the creativity and excellence that define our food and drink sector…as the success of previous events have shown, it’s a launchpad for new partnerships, growth, and global success and I’m sure this year will be no different.”
Huw Irranca-Davies, MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, highlighted the role of government support: “Multi-million-pound investments in innovation and infrastructure are helping our producers expand their reach, boost sustainability, and compete internationally…this event is a unique opportunity to experience the very best of Wales on the world stage!”
Major industry sponsors, including Castell Howell Foods, Radnor Hills, and Rachel’s Organic Dairy, are supporting the event, acknowledging its vital role in the commercial health of the sector.
Looking ahead, the Welsh Government plans to maintain this momentum by hosting the Blas Cymru/Taste Wales Conference in October 2026 and supporting the Worldchefs Congress in May 2026.
