Local Food First Wrexham
more ...

Local Food First Wrexham

Welcome to Local Food First Wrexham

Increasing Opportunities for Local Rural Food Producers

Wrexham is a wonderfully rich and diverse area with an abundance of mouth watering local food and drink available throughout the county. Wrexham has the Ceiriog Valley with is tender lamb and fresh trout, towards the Cheshire Plains...

28Mar

It’s Back! Wrexham Food Festival – 12th &13th May 2012

Wrexham Food Festival is back for 2012.  Live cookery demonstrations, 60 food and drink producers, entertainment and a whole load of family fun.

Demonstrations from:

  • Leigh Myers – Grosvenor Pulford Hotel
  • Graham Tinsley – Welsh Culinary Team
  • Yale College
  • Wrexham School Cooks

The festival will feature the finals of the Wrexham Schools Cookery Competition ‘A Dish Fit For a Queen’, where pupils have been encouraged to cook with seasonal, Wrexham produce.

The food festival will be held on Llwyn Isaf, Wrexham (outside the Guildhall).

Entry: £3 adults and £2 concessions

For more information on Wrexham Food Festival please visit: http://www.wix.com/chrisjon65/wrexhamfoodfestival#/

5Mar

Win a Home Farm Meat Box Worth £100!

Home Farm is a family run business in Overton, they manage a pedigree herd of rare breed Middle Whites, Saddle Back, Berkshires, Gloucester Old Spot and Oxford Sandy and Black Pigs, along with free range Turkeys, Ducks and Geese
and many varieties of pure breed Poultry.

Visit Home Farm’s new wesbite to buy their fresh and free range produce online and take part in their competition to win a meat box worth £100.

http://homefarmoverton.co.uk/competition.htm

10Feb

CAMRA Pub of the Year – Bridge End Inn, Ruabon

Congratulations to the Bridge End Inn, Ruabon who have won the title of CAMRA Pub of the Year 2012.

For opening times visit: http://www.mcgivernales.co.uk/index.html.

16Jan

Local Food First Wrexham Calendar 2012

Local Food First Wrexham has produced a limited number of 2012 calendar’s. The calendar’s feature recipes from Wrexham producers and school children, along with a guide to what is in season.

For your free calendar please contact caroline.dawson@wrexham.gov.uk or call 01978 298384

5Jan

North East Wales Food Conference 2012

Tuesday 31st January 2012, 5.30pm—9.00pm

Venue: Northop Hall Hotel, Chester Road,
Northop Hall, Flintshire, CH7 6HJ
The North East Wales Food Conference – an event aimed at local food and drink producers/businesses from Flintshire, Denbighshire and Wrexham.

Guest Speakers
Conrad Davies-MD Spar/Eurospar stores in Pwllheli, Dolgellau & Blaenau Ffestiniog and Wales the True Taste Champion 2011-2012
Lawrence Washington – Purple Moose Brewery 
Amanda Daniels – Koogar Digital Marketing
Russell Ferguson – Wales the True Taste Mentoring Programme

 Conference Agenda
5.30pm  Arrival and registration
5.45pm  Hot buffet and networking
6.30pm  Welcome: Caroline Dawson (Local Food First Wrexham)
6.40pm  Introduction to the evening: Russell Ferguson
7.00pm  Eurospar and Wales the True Taste Champion 2011/12: Conrad Davies
7.30pm  Digital Marketing: Amanda Daniels
8.00pm  Purple Moose Brewery: Lawrence Washington
8.30pm  Open discussion and closing remarks
9.00pm  Close

During the evening there will be an opportunity to network with food and drink producers from across the region, hear from social media and marketing experts and learn about new ideas to shape and drive your business forward.

Organisations and project officers will be on hand throughout the evening to offer business advice and support.

The conference has been organised by Northern Marches Cymru and Cadwyn Clwyd
Please respond by Wednesday 25th January 2012
To book your free place, including hot buffet
Call: 01978 298384
Email: caroline.dawson@wrexham.gov.uk

1Dec

Grow to Love Campaign….

Do you struggle to sell gluts of produce? Do you find less well known varieties of fruit and vegetables more difficult to sell?

 
Come and join Horticulture Wales for the launch of the new Grow to Love campaign!  Aimed at developing communication between growers and consumers to encourage consumers to purchase more delicious, fresh, local produce, find out how the first phase of this campaign can help your business:

• A marketing and merchandising workshop by Sian Roberts of Howel Food Consultancy – lots of useful tips, advice and interactive activities
• Receive a pack of the new Grow to Love product cards with information on a selection of fruit and vegetables including interesting facts, preparation and recipe ideas 
• Tasting session – interesting twists on familiar vegetables!

 
The event is at The Shippon Restaurant, Plassey Leisure Park, Eyton, Wrexham LL13 0SP and starts at 10.30am until approximately 2.30pm. 
Attendance is free and lunch will be provided. Places are limited so please reserve your place by email horticulturewales@glyndwr.ac.uk or call 01978 293967 by Wednesday, 7th December.  A full itinerary will be provided nearer the time.

 
The Horticulture Wales project has received funding through the supply chain efficiencies scheme of the Rural Development Plan for Wales. This scheme is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. To find out more about the project please visit www.horticulturewales.co.uk.

25Nov

Marketing Initiative of the Year 2011

POULTRY veteran Tony Kynaston has become the face of free range eggs after appearing in a snappy poster campaign.

Mr Kynaston, of Nant Ucha Farm, Garth, Llangollen, is pictured holding a chicken on the poster.

Underneath are the word: “Meet Tony … he produces eggs. Well he doesn’t, he leaves that to his free range hens in the wilds of Garth.”

Since its launch earlier this year, the number of outlets stocking Nant Ucha Eggs has soared from 32 to 71.

Tony’s daughter Heather said: “The posters have been fantastic in getting the face of the egg farmer known to the locals.

“Our customers feel as if they know Tony personally. They feel as if they know where the eggs are coming from.

“The posters have helped generate new customers for us, both retail and wholesale.”

The poster was produced by Local Food First Wrexham, which was nominated for an award by Nant Ucha at this month’s British Free Range Egg Producers Conference, Stoneleigh.

Local Food First Wrexham went on to win the Best Egg Marketing Initiative 2011.

Heather added: “My old man is recognised by so many people now.”

 

25Oct

Wrexham Champion Sausage 2011

Wrexham Champion Sausage 2011 – Results

Traditional Pork Class

1. Lewis’s Farm Shop, Eyton

2. Jones Brothers Farm Shop, Wrexham

3. Home Farm, Overton
 Speciality Class

1. Lewis’s Farm Shop, Eyton – Welsh Dragon Sausage

2. Home Farm, Overton – Pork and Leek

3. Platts Butchers, Wrexham  – Pork and Black Pudding
Overall Champion – Lewis’s Farm Shop  for their Welsh Dragon Sausage

6Oct

Lovefinefood.com is Launched

“Lovefinefood.com brings the best of local produce under one website. Now food lovers can buy online and have all of their products assembled into a single order for them to collect in one visit.”

One of the instigators was Yale College catering manager Mark Parsons, an avid supporter of local producers who has has worked with Local Food First Wrexham to host “A Taste of Wrexham”  to link customers and buyers to local producers.

He is now working with students to offer a range of “dine-at-home” dishes using produce from local suppliers.

The idea is that shoppers can enjoy “restaurant-quality food” in the comfort of their own homes.

“We have some very gifted students with a passion for producing good food and a 5-star kitchen where we work to the highest standards of hygiene,” said Mark.

“This venture provides the perfect vehicle to put these assets to good use.”

Orders can be collected twice a week from the college, which may also deliver to workplaces if there is sufficient interest.

Products listed so far range from fresh meat and fish to ready meals, wines and specialist teas and coffees.

“It looks fantastic,” said Jo Edwards, of Rossett-based Aballu Artizan Chocolatiers, who is hoping to land some Christmas orders.

“It gives small producers a good platform for sales and to promote the quality of local food.”

To place an order visit: www.lovefinefood.com

 

5Oct

Vote For Erlas Victorian Walled Garden

The Erlas Victorian Walled Garden has applied to the Natwest Community Award for a chance to win £6000 which we will use to employ a part-time volunteer co-ordinator. The winners of this award are decided by the number of votes we get from people, and we would be pleased if you can not only vote for our project yourselves, but pass on this e-mail to others so that they can vote for us. Voting finishes by 21st October, and we have 36 votes so far! The link to vote for us is: http://t.co/8QUQFaY7
Fingers crossed and thanks for your support!

The European Agricultural Fund Welsh Assembly Government Northern Marches Cymru Wrexham County Council