Welsh food and drink companies are reaping the benefits of selling via the small screen after being showcased on TV shopping channel, QVC.
The public’s response to the channel’s two ‘True Taste of Wales’ shows, has been very encouraging, and has enabled home shoppers across the UK to buy Welsh produce.
The project, which is a partnership between the Welsh Assembly Government and the TV shopping company QVC, has enabled some of Wales’s best known producers to introduce their products to a new audience.
The inaugural show was broadcast live on November 23, 2006 - the night of the True Taste Wales Food and Drink Awards. The one hour show was hosted by QVC presenter Simon Biaggi accompanied by Welsh food writer and broadcaster Angela Gray.
The range of Welsh products that were featured included individual and mixed selections. Some mixed selections also featured products from more than one company.
One of the ways QVC measures performance is the ratio of sales per minute of airtime, with some products completely selling out within minutes of being aired. During the course of the one hour show, retail sales value topped just under £41,000.
The second True Taste show, which aired on St David’s Day (March 1st), saw total sales increase to £43,000.
Over the past few months a range of selected Welsh Food producers have met with QVC buyers at two special ‘Meet the Buyer’ events in Mid Wales and Cardiff introducing them to a variety of speciality Welsh foods.
With the next ‘True Taste of Wales’ programme already planned for 22 July at midday, it is hoped more shows will follow later on in the year featuring even more Welsh products.
Said Norma Barry, Director of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Food and Market Development Division, “Food shopping is one of the fastest growing areas on QVC.
“Indeed, one of QVC’s meat suppliers has grown annual sales to c£1.5m in just over two years of trading. The opportunity for Welsh food producers is therefore a significant one.”
MORE DETAILS: Sheila Coleman 01792 817532 / 07968 357474
Email: sheila@colemanroberts.co.uk
Kelly-Ann Teasdale at Attenborough Saffron
Tel: 0207 067 1597
Email: kellyannt@attenborough.net
Welsh companies which have been featured to on QVC
Snowdonia Cheese Company
Unit B6
Trem y Dyffryn
Colomendy Industrial Estate
Denbigh
LL16 5TX
Contact: Owen Jones
Tel: 01745 813388
Email: sales@snowdonia-cheese.co.uk
Website: www.snowdoniacheese.co.uk
Clam’s Hand Made Cakes
Lewis Parry House
Unit 4, Elvicta Business Park
Crickhowell,
Powys
NP8 1DF
Contact: Lewis Phillips
Tel: 01873 812283
Email: lewis@clamscakes.co.uk
Website: www.clamscakes.co.uk
Cheeses From Wales
Tyn-y-Llwyn
Pont-rhyd-Groes
Ystrad Meurig
SY25 6DP
Contact: Gill Pateman
Tel: 01974 282572
Email: gill@cheesesfromwales.com
Website: www.cheesesfromwales.com
Kid Me Not
Ffynnongrech Farm
Talley
Llandeilo
Carmarthenshire
SA19 7BZ
Contact: Loraine Makowski Heaton
Tel: 01558 6859351
Email: loraine@kidmenot.co.uk
Website: www.kidmenot.co.uk
Pembertons Chocolates
The Welsh Chocolate Farm
Llanboidy
Whitland
Carmarthenshire
SA34 0EX
Tel: 01994 448 800
Contact: Emily Jones
Email: chocolate.farm@btopenworld.com
Website: www.welshchocolatefarm.com
Harvies Pies
Waen Farm
Nercwys
Flintshire.
Contact: Carol Harvie
Tel / Fax: 01352751285
Mobile: 07813 810721
Email:pastry5@btconnect.com
Welsh Farm Organics
Tyn Y Fron
Pentre
Mochdre
Powys, SY16 4JW
Contact: Jonathan Rees
01686 627979
Email: sales@welshfarmorganics.co.uk
www.welshfarmorganics.co.uk
