Welsh secure new lamb deal with Japan
Sushi, Tempora, Gyoza, Welsh Lamb…that could be a gourmet menu in Japan as early as next week after the announcement of a new export deal by Hybu Cig Cymru-Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair today.
“I can tell you today that Welsh Lamb is on its way to Japan,” revealed HCC Chair Catherine Smith. “It will be arriving this week and we now have firm plans to build on that with a significant launch into Food Service businesses in Japan early in the new year.”
In what she called a “double Welsh Lamb whammy” she went on to tell guests at the HCC industry breakfast of a further major export deal in HCC’s European customer base. “Our work in the export market has also borne fruit in one of our key European territories, where a new agreement was progressed that could see Welsh Lamb stocked in up to a further 1,000 stores in a major German retail chain.”
She said supplying Japan had taken years of negotiation, advocacy and persistence and was a testimony to the sterling work that HCC, in its 20th birthday year, is doing to hold up and extend the value of our premium brands.
“Our evidence-based consumer branding work has informed and underpinned the current “Experts In Our Field” marketing campaign. I’m delighted to report that this campaign is succeeding and that this work would not be possible on the scale that it has been carried out without the brilliance of our farmers and their unrivalled sustainability credentials product – and, of course, the valuable and continued support of Welsh Government,” said Catherine Smith.
“We’re in a good place – and it’s vital we stay there.”
She said Welsh livestock was a billion-pound industry. “Farm total income is more than £600m; we employ just under 50,000 people and of course, many more in the supply chain. Exports are worth £258 million – and you’ve just heard we’re on our way to more in 2024 – and our 8.7m sheep and 1.1 million cattle produce around 90,000 tonnes of red meat each year.”
“These figures show we’re at the head of the Welsh economy – but we’re also the heart of the Welsh economy. Our “industry” is an all-embracing term for our majestic patchwork quilt of production, our incredible network of traditional family farms,” said Catherine Smith.
Hybu Cig Cymru
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