Local food and drink makers will be championed at a series of free events which businesses in all parts of Swansea are being invited to attend.
The events – called Made in Swansea and Made in Rural Swansea – are aimed at bringing together Swansea businesses like restaurants, cafes, pubs and shops with local producers including farmers, growers, bakers and brewers.
Made in Swansea is being held at the Brangwyn Hall from 10am to 3pm on Tuesday November 15, with Made in Rural Swansea taking place at the Rasoi Indian Kitchen in Pontlliw from 10am to 3pm on Tuesday November 22.
Both events form part of a Swansea Council drive to boost the local economy and cut the city’s carbon footprint by encouraging businesses to source as much of their food and drink as possible from local suppliers.
Stalls will be available at the events, as well as local food discussions, cookery demonstrations and samples of locally produced food and drink.
Gower Coast Meat and Tir a Môr bakes will be among the local businesses exhibiting.
There will also be a presentation on the findings of a recent mapping local produce study.
Cllr Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member at the Council and Cllr Champion for Rural Economy, said: “We have so many fantastic local food and drink producers in Swansea that many people will be unaware of, so these events will help raise their profile while also introducing them to potential new buyers in the local area.
“Supporting our local food and drink producers in this way is important. It not only boosts the local economy and helps create more jobs by keeping spending local, but it also cuts our carbon footprint by shortening the distance between food and drink businesses and their suppliers.”
Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, also a Cabinet Member at the Council, said: “Many local businesses are already doing a great job in sourcing as much of their produce as possible from the local area, but we hope events like this will lead to more spending with local food and drink producers than ever before.
“We’d encourage as many of our urban and rural businesses as possible to attend these events, discover the huge variety of locally produced food and drink, and meet the people behind the brands.”
The Made in Swansea event at the Brangwyn Hall is aimed at potential buyers in or close to the city centre, with The Made in Rural Swansea event at the Rasoi Indian Kitchen targeting potential buyers outside the city centre and in more rural areas of the city. Local food and drink producers are encouraged to attend both events.
The events are free but tickets are needed to attend.
The Swansea local food study is part of a project being run by Afallen for the Swansea Food Partnership with Open Food Network and Urban Foundry.
This project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government, and supported by the Swansea Rural Development Partnership at Swansea Council.
Funding has been awarded from Swansea Council’s Economic Recovery Fund to capture the urban wards.
