New vision for growth for food an drink industry
DRIVING up wages, while expanding sales, are key aims of an updated plan for the Welsh food and drink industry.
By 2025, the Welsh Government wants to have increased the number of staff who receive the Welsh Living Wage to 80%.
At the same time, Cardiff aims to grow the sector’s turnover value to £8.5bn, up from the £7.5bn achieved in 2019.
Other goals include improving productivity with at least six more Welsh products gaining UK GI status, reflecting their unique qualities.
Announcing the new Vision for the Food & Drink industry at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair, rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths said the impacts of Brexit or Covid-19 cannot be ignored.
But she insisted neither should be allowed to stand in the way of further growth.
She said: “We must not let either, however challenging, detract from our long-term goals – promoting growth and productivity, promoting fairness in work, ensuring businesses reach for the
highest levels of environmental sustainability and helping them achieve this through enhancing their reputation and standards.”
The Vision’s objectives include:
Every year the turnover
value of Wales’ food and drink sector to proportionately grow more than the rest of the UK, and to at least £8.5bn by 2025.
The three-year average of Gross Value Added (GVA) per hour worked in
the industry to increase proportionately more than the rest of the UK.
Every year, the proportion of food and drink sector employees receiving at least the Welsh Living Wage is to increase, to achieve 80%
by 2025.
Every year, a rise in the proportion of manufacturing businesses holding accreditations.
Every year, an increase in the proportion of manufacturing businesses achieving industry awards.
By 2025, 98% of businesses to have a food hygiene rating of 5.
The Vision is aimed at every business in the industry from retail and exporters to tourism, from brewers and bakers to manufacturers and processors.
In addition, a Decarbonisation Action Plan is being developed for the food and drink manufacturing industry.
This, said Mrs Griffiths, will be “crucial” in helping the food and drink industry to maximise opportunities as Wales moves to Net Zero status.
She added: “The food and drink industry has a vital role to play in the evolution of the Welsh economy and there is a strong desire to maintain this momentum.
“We are clear the objectives set out here are just the beginning.”
The government’s previous six-year strategy targeted a turnover value of £7bn by 2020.
This was achieved in the pre-Covid year of 2019, when cumulative 30% growth saw record sales of £7.5bn.
By 2020, exports had risen to £550m, up from £408m at the start of the strategy.