SIMON WRIGHT, the owner of Wright’s Food Emporium in Llanarthne and who has over 30 years of experience in the hospitality and food sector in Wales, has been appointed to chair an Expert Working Group that will advise the Welsh Government on developing a National Food Strategy for Wales.
The news of the appointment by Llŷr Gruffydd MS, the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, has been welcomed by Nerys Evans, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for Sir Gaerfyrddin.
The remit of the new Expert Working Group will be to provide recommendations regarding the key challenges and opportunities facing the Welsh food system, advice on how to measure success, to develop long-term collaboration between the Welsh Government, the wider public sector and the food and drink industry.
It is hoped that the new strategy will change the way Wales thinks about the entire food system from farm to fork.
The new chair of the Expert Working Group, Simon Wright, said: “Wales punches well above its weight in food and drink, but there’s so much more we can do. This is a real opportunity to cut through and get things right for our industry and the country.
“I welcome the ambition of the new Government, and I look forward to working with producers, businesses and communities to make it happen.”
Nerys Evans MS added: “Farmers here in Wales produce sustainable food of the highest quality, and nowhere is that more evident than here in Carmarthenshire.
“Ensuring the sustainability of the sector is vital, as we strengthen food supply chains, improve food safety, and give better support to those who produce food and who maintain our rural economy, communities and the Welsh language.
“We also need to ensure that we look at teaching our children about food, cooking and about the wealth of healthy, local food we have on offer.
“I am delighted that Simon Wright has agreed to lead on this important work, who brings decades of experience, insight and expertise to ensure we consider the whole food system in our approach.”
The working group is expected to present recommendations to Welsh Government ministers next year.
