Rail deal is just the ticket for Welsh food producers
TRANSPORT for Wales customers are now able to enjoy a muchincreased range of high-quality locally-produced meat and other foods, thanks to a new commitment by the train operator to procure produce from Welsh sources.
Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) joined Transport for Wales this week to celebrate the news at a launch in Cardiff Central station.
The procurements, which cover products from Welsh beef, Welsh lamb and pork sausages to cheese, biscuits and beverages, will result in more Welsh-branded products being available on the buffet trolleys on a wide range of Transport for Wales services, as well as featuring in premium hot meals in first-class carriages on long-distance trains.
HCC is also providing promotional material for travellers to read on their journey, outlining the story behind how food is produced in Wales and the outstanding provenance of PGI Welsh lamb and PGI Welsh beef.
“We are delighted to be working with Transport for Wales and their suppliers on this exciting step forward in local food procurement,” said HCC’s UK market development executive Emily Rees.
“Our national rail operator is showing an excellent example and demonstrating its commitment to Welsh food producers.
“As well as the direct boost from the procurement, being more visible on our nation’s railways is a great promotional platform for our food industry.
“That’s why we’ve taken the opportunity to provide information on the sustainable way our red meat is produced which customers can read on their journey.”
Mike Brown, from Transport for Wales, added: “In Wales we are blessed to have some of the finest food and drink suppliers in the industry, with a world-class reputation for quality.
“So by partnering with Hybu Cig Cymru to work with those suppliers, we are ensuring our customers can access only the very best from our catering services whilst travelling with us.
“Catering on trains has come a long way since the British Rail sandwich and we can truly be proud of the food and drinks we’ll be serving, and hope are customers will be excited for it too.
“And by making this commitment, we know our investment is going back into the economies we serve, supporting our hardworking local farmers and other food producers to grow their businesses.”