PUPILS from schools in South Wales have been taking part in the Tasty Careers Schools Challenge, a competition that challenges pupils to design food products and dishes that are healthy, sustainable, and commercially viable.
The Tasty Careers Schools Challenge is a National Skills Academy for Food & Drink (NSAFD) Wales initiative in partnership with the Welsh Government funded Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru / Food & Drink Skills Wales programme and Careers Wales. Supporters of this year’s schools challenge include Castell Howell Foods, Dunbia, Keepak, Leprino Foods and hospitality group Seren.
The finals took place on March 12 at Parc Y Scarlets in Llanelli. Teams of pupils battled it out, pitching their final products including a pudding designed to look like Welsh mountains, a super smoothie and a ‘Welshake’ health drink.
Ysgol Bro Gwaun won with their product, ‘Mac & Caws’ – a macaroni pasta dish with a meat and vegetarian option.
The competition has been running since 2018, with finals taking place in North and South Wales. Previous winners have completed the briefs so successfully that their products have gone on to be professionally produced and sold. This year’s competition required pupils to create a new food or drink product that is healthy, sustainable and includes as much Welsh produce as possible.
Tasty Careers 2025 attracted the highest number of entrants since it started in 2018, with over 1200 pupils from schools across Wales taking part. The South Wales finalists were Ysgol Bro Gwaun, Ysgol Bro Teifi, Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin, Penyrheol Comprehensive School, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Maes Y Gwendraeth, Ysgol Glan y Môr School, Ysgol Coedcae School, Ysgol Bryngwyn School and St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive School.
Louise Cairns, CEO for NSAFD/Tasty Careers, said: “Congratulations to Ysgol Bro Gwaun for their outstanding performance in this year’s Tasty Careers Schools Challenge.
“The judges were highly impressed with all the entrants but their creation really stood out for sustainability, commercial viability – and of course, taste.
“We hope that participating in this competition will inspire some pupils to consider a career in Wales’ outstanding food and drink sector.”
Kate Rees, Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru / Food & Drink Skills Wales Programme Manager, added: “It’s been inspiring to witness the ingenuity of the students at the Tasty Careers Challenge.
“They are undoubtedly our future foodies, and this initiative is a significant asset in cultivating talent for the industry. The future of Welsh Food & Drink is in good hands!”
Aled Evans, a business engagement adviser at Careers Wales, said: “Tasty Careers is a fantastic event that encourages pupils to develop their creativity, team building and organisation skills, learn more about the food and drink sector in Wales and produce final products that they are proud of.
“The challenge also broadens their aspirations and encourages them to think about their futures.”
For more information on Tasty Careers, head to https://tastycareers.org.uk/.
