COLUMN: Raising a glass to local food and drink producers
“One of Montgomeryshire’s greatest strengths is the quality and variety of our local food and drink producers. From traditional cider makers to tea blenders, from breweries to award-winning jerky and artisan kitchens, our area is home to businesses that not only produce outstanding products but also bring jobs, innovation and pride to our communities.
This November, I’ll be hosting an event in the Senedd that I’ve named ‘Montgomeryshire Day’, giving us the chance to showcase the very best of what our county has to offer right at the heart of Welsh democracy. It’s important that colleagues from across Wales see and taste for themselves the quality of what’s produced here.
Whilst the event I’m hosting in conjunction with the Farmers Union of Wales is about promotion of all sectors, I wanted to mention some local food and drink producers in this article.
A few examples stand out. Old Monty Cider brings heritage apple varieties back to life with their award-winning blends. Langfords Foodhall is a success story of local produce on a national scale, well known for its high-quality sausages.
Morgan’s Brew Tea is creating distinctive Welsh teas and infusions that are now enjoyed far beyond Mid Wales. Trailhead Fine Foods, with their Get Jerky brand, have taken Welsh beef and turned it into a multi-award-winning snack.
Businesses like Pantri Swswen and Monty’s Brewery highlight the creativity and passion that runs through our food and drink sector.
Over the summer I’ve been visiting many of our local food and drink producers. Just last week, I met with Coco Pzazzfounder, Lori, and other members of the team. When I visited their factory in Llanidloes everyone was busy crafting and making chocolate. The business began back in 2011 as a kitchen-table project, but today it has grown into a well-established brand that also enjoys collaborating with other companies. A true success story.
I also met with Gasm Drinks who are based in Sarn. Gasm is a brand specialising in gin-infused Prosecco cocktails. Their original flagship product, Sloeberry Gasm which won a coveted Great Taste Award in 2021, started them on their path and they have since added a wide range of gin and prosecco-based cocktails. They’re a true family business that I am glad are based in Montgomeryshire.
These businesses are vital for more than just their products. They create jobs, support other local businesses and keep our rural economy thriving. Many of the above will be attending Montgomeryshire Day in November.
I’m proud to be shining a spotlight on these local firms and I know that everyone who samples their work will see exactly why Montgomeryshire is such a special place.
The food and drink sector is a cornerstone of the Powys economy, worth millions of pounds each year and supporting thousands of jobs across the supply chain. From farming and primary production through to processing, packaging, distribution and retail, this sector underpins much of our rural prosperity. It is also one of Wales’s fastest-growing industries, with real potential for exports and new markets.
That’s why it’s so important that government policy continues to back local producers, whether through support for innovation, access to finance, skills and training, or ensuring rural infrastructure like transport and broadband are fit for purpose. With the right backing our businesses can compete on the national and international stage, while keeping jobs and investment rooted in Powys.
My thanks to the Farmers Union of Wales for their support in hosting this event with me. If you are a local producer and would like to attend the event in November, please do contact me.
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