New food and drink firms go on show at winter fair

THIS year’s Royal Welsh Winter Fair will host a special start-up farmers’ market for 10 new food and drink businesses.

This year’s show, at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd, will take place from November 26-27.

Made possible due to a partnership between the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society and the Agora project, the initiative aims to give these small businesses the opportunity to build confidence and key retail skills through a programme of training and support.

The 10 selected firms consist of enterprising individuals who aspire to develop their idea into a thriving business. All will receive targeted training by well-known food and drink specialist Nerys Howell before the Winter Fair, preparing them for their first day of trading at the event.

Testing the market in this way will enable the start-ups to carry out research and gain the skills and confidence to take their business to the next level.

Royal Welsh Agricultural Society head of business development Sarah James said: “As one of the largest ‘shop windows’ for Welsh produce, the society is able to offer this new and unique opportunity as a starter platform for small businesses to grow with confidence, ensuring informed decisions are made with valuable feedback.

“It’s a brave thing to start a new venture, to start trading and present your produce to the general public. With support from the society and Agora, we hope this initiative will allow the future brands of Welsh food and drink to succeed.”

Agora is a new Welsh Government-funded project providing free support to new and small businesses that produce goods that are grown, grazed and made in mid and south-east Wales.

Agora project manager Rolant Tomos said: “It’s a great pleasure to see this partnership with the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society. The Agora team has been busy in recent months encouraging individuals and groups to take the leap and I look forward to seeing their new businesses trading for the very first time.”

Visitors to the Winter Fair will be able to visit and purchase food, drink and gifts from the start-up farmers market’, situated outside the society’s main office, on both days of the event.

■ For more information or an application form to apply for a space at the start-up farmers’ market, visit www.rwas.wales/ start-up-farmers-market or www.menterabusnes.co.uk/ agora