Welsh F&B exports to the UAE record remarkable growth since 2013

UAE top regional importer of Welsh products and services, third globally

Dubai, UAE - 10 February 2015

Welsh food and beverage companies are gearing up to attend Gulfood, the biggest annual food and hospitality show in the region with the aim of identifying new customers and building ties with the rapidly developing market in the UAE.

With total Welsh exports exceeding AED13.3bn to the UAE in 2013, exports of Welsh F&B companies to the UAE have recorded a remarkable growth of 25% between 2013 and 2014.  Wales is famous for its outstanding natural beauty and produces some of the most innovative and high quality food products in the British Isles. In total, 15 producers from Wales will be in attendance, all looking to promote their produce and brands, including internationally renowned Welsh Lamb and Llanllyr Water, an award winning premium bottled water that is sold to many of the world's leading restaurants and hotels.

Exports from Wales to the Middle East have grown six fold in ten years. The F&B sector plays a key role in making the UAE Wales' third largest global, and biggest regional export market with over AED51.55bn in products and services exported since 2004. According to Lee Jennings, the Welsh Government's Regional Manager, "Growth in exports from Wales continue to outperform the rest of the UK at 11.2% compared to just 0.4% across the rest of Britain. The targets set out in our Food and Drink Industry Action Plan reflect our confidence in this sector and underpins the importance of the UAE to Wales. With the growth in tourism and hospitality in general with the build up to Expo 2020 we see the UAE as being one of key priorities, and we look forward to continuous growth in F&B exports to the region and UAE."   

A number of Welsh F&B companies have already established a presence in the region as a result of attending previous Gulfood shows. One such company is Burts Biscuits and Cakes, whose products can now be found in Spinneys, Zoom Markets and Express, Choithrams and Carrefour all around the UAE. Another company with growing presence in the UAE is the Snowdonia Cheese Company, whose extensive range of coloured wax-coated blended natural cheeses are currently on sale in numerous outlets in the UAE.

The Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Farming and Food, Rebecca Evans further commented "Our food and drink sector is one we can rightly be proud of and we need to ensure that everybody knows about it. It is also a very important economic driver - during the last four quarters Welsh food and drink exports were worth over AED1.6 billion, up 3.4% on the previous year, a higher increase than the UK figure for the same period."

The Welsh delegation will be in Sheikh Saeed Hall (S2-F34 to S2-F50 and S2-G33 to S2-G49).

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For more information, please contact:
Abdul Karim Samaan
Taqarabu Communications
abdulkarim@taqarabu.com
+971
50 3633 145

About the Welsh Government:
The Welsh Government's office in Dubai is responsible for developing Wales' strategic approach to identifying export opportunities relating to the Middle East & North Africa region and attracting new foreign direct investment into Wales from MENA. The Welsh Government's MENA office was opened on March 1st, 2004 (St David's Day) and since then it has worked with over 550 companies bringing trade missions, delegations and exhibitor to events in MENA.

List of Welsh companies exhibiting in Gulfood:

-          Clarks UK Ltd - www.clarksit.co.uk: Clarks is a family business that started packing maple syrup in 2008 and has grown to become the UK market brand leader with its unique squeezy bottle.

-          Burts Biscuits and Cakes Ltd - www.burtsbiscuitsandcakes.com: Burts Biscuits and Cakes Limited is a manufacturer of traditional British Tea Time Cake and Novelty Shortbread, which can now be found on sale in the UAE in Spinneys, Zoom Markets and Express, Choithrams and Carrefour.

-          D Sidoli and Sons Ltd - www.sidolidesserts.co.uk: A family run business based in rural Mid Wales, well known in the UK market for making, baking and hand finishing an extensive range of over 600 different quality desserts, cheesecakes, cakes, puddings and fruit pies ideal for quality restaurant groups, coffee shop chains and foodservice wholesale distributors in the frozen food industry.

-          Dansco Dairy / Dairy Partners - www.dairypartners.co.uk: Dairy Partners are a long established, British, family owned dairy company. Working in close partnership with farmers and customers, we provide a wide range of products and pack sizes.

-          The Good Carb Food Company - www.lizis.co.uk: Selling products under the Lizi brand, since its launch 10 years ago, we have become the leading innovative producer of healthy granola breakfast cereals.

-          Trioni Ltd - www.trioni.com: We offer a wide range of organic long-life milk products which include our 1 litre and 200ml whole and semi-skimmed organic milk and a flavoured milk range in 200ml and 250ml sizes.

-          Llanllyr Water - www.llanllyrwater.com: An award winning premium bottled water company. Our water is sold to many of the world's top restaurants and hotels. We are an innovative and carbon neutral company.

-          Snowdonia Cheese - www.snowdoniacheese.co.uk: he Snowdonia Cheese Company is based in the picturesque setting of North Wales. We produce an extensive range of coloured wax-coated blended natural cheeses, each made using the finest ingredients and with our signature texture and intense taste.

-          Meat Promotion Wales - www.hccmpw.org.uk: Meat Promotion Wales (Hybu Cig Cymru) is the industry-led organisation responsible for the development, promotion and marketing of Welsh red meat.

-          Plas Farm Ltd - www.plas-farm.co.uk: Plas Farm are the UK's leading Frozen Yogurt manufacturer, with over 20 years experience in the market.

-          CK Food and Drinks Ltd (The Coconut Kitchen) - www.thecoconutkitchen.co.uk: We are producers of premium, authentic Thai sauces, marinades and pastes. We are also owners of The Coconut Kitchen Thai restaurant which we have been running for 8 years in Abersoch.

-          Radnor Preserves Ltd - www.radnorpreserves.com: Multi-award-winning exquisite hand-made preserves - beautifully packaged and presented - will appeal to high-end luxury market.

-          Cradoc's Savoury Biscuits Ltd - www.cradocs.co.uk: Savoury and cheese board biscuits. Delicious handmade, low in fat and sugar. Made with fresh vegetables, fruits and spices. High end product perfect for retail, hospitality and snacking.

-          Samosaco (Sim's Foods Ltd) - www.samosaco.co.uk: Samosaco is a leading producer of a range of Vegetarian and Vegan snacks and meal solutions including Ethnic Variants for both the Foodservice and Retail operations.

© Press Release 2015