School meals served to Powys learners will now use more Welsh produce thanks to a new partnership between the council and Wales’ leading independent food service wholesaler.

Powys County Council has teamed up with Cross-Hands based Castell Howell, who will now be the main supplier of fresh and frozen foods that will be used by the council’s Catering Team to make healthy and nutritious school meals.

Cllr Jake Berriman, Cabinet Member for a Connected Powys, said: “This is an exciting partnership and I’m delighted that the council will be working with Castell Howell to continue to provide healthy, nutritionally balanced meals in schools across the county.

“As a council, we are looking to use more Welsh produce so our new partnership with Castell Howell will help us achieve this. We will also work with them to produce more seasonal school meal menus that use produce grown here in Wales and, where possible, Powys.”

Matt Lewis, Managing Director at Castell Howell, said: “Castell Howell Foods have delivered food to businesses across Powys for numerous years, building partnerships with caterers and hospitality customers.

“We’re very proud to be nominated as new suppliers to Powys County Council and look forward to developing similar partnerships with the schools that play an invaluable role in the communities where these businesses operate. We’ve been working with local authorities for numerous years, supplying over 1,000 schools, helping to deliver the ingredients for an estimated 600,000 school meals every week.

“Evolving Welsh supply chains is important. We’re into year three of our ‘Welsh Veg to Welsh Schools’ collaborative initiative and are already working with a grower in the south-east of the county, and developing relationships with a grower to the east of Brecon.

“Our aim is to work to a three-year plan with Powys County Council, where a higher quantity of Welsh produce features in the school plate. Powys have similar aspirations and there are numerous opportunities to realise our shared ambitions.”