SPAR retailer and entrepreneur
Conrad Davies has been awarded one of Wales' most prestigious food
awards for his ongoing dedication to supporting local
producers.
The North Wales retailer has been
named True Taste Champion of Wales at this year's True Taste Awards
ceremony, held on 20 October.
Conrad, who is managing director of
SPAR Pwllheli, as well as EUROSPAR outlets in Dolgellau and Blaenau
Ffestiniog, has taken home the gong thanks to his fantastic efforts
to stock food and drink from local producers in his stores.
He currently sources products from
more than 70 local suppliers in his stores, and has a fresh fish
department at his Dolgellau SPAR store selling squid and lobster,
as well as a comprehensive, locally sourced meat selection.
This is not the first time Conrad
has been recognised for his dedication to supporting local
producers.
He won the True Taste Local Hero
Store Manager award in 2007-2008, and was also judged joint winner
of the Best Local Food Retailer award at the BBC Radio 4 Food &
Farming Awards in the same year. He also won True Taste local
retailer of the year 2010/201 for EUROSPAR Dolgellau.
Furthermore, last year Conrad was
commended by the former Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones, for
having the local sourcing of Welsh food and drink high on the
agenda.
Conrad Davies said: "Opening the
EUROSPAR stores has given us the opportunity to have a closer
working relationship with existing suppliers and develop new
relationships with new suppliers.
"Sales figures have been really
good and we are grateful to the local community for supporting
EUROSPAR and the Welsh food sector."
"I think our relationship with the
local community and locally sourced produce gives us a real point
of difference from the other supermarkets in the area. Whilst we
benefit from having the SPAR global brand above our door, we also
having the flexibility to run our business independently.
Conrad also organised a Welsh Food
and Drink Fortnight from October 24 to November 5 at his three
stores to celebrate the fantastic local produce on offer. A
range of True Taste award winning products were promoted during the
fortnight.
"I am thrilled by the incredible
sales of quality Welsh food and drink products in the past year,
which are down to
the good relationship that we have
developed with producers," said Conrad.
Now in their tenth year, the Welsh
Assembly-managed awards reflect the increased demands from
consumers for locally sourced produce along with those of the
export market place.
Alun Davies, Deputy Minister for
Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, said he was greatly impressed by
the standard of entries in the independently judged Awards.
"For a decade the Wales the True
Taste Food and Drink Awards have been at the forefront of promoting
the wonderful array of Welsh produce, and cements the important
partnership between the food industry and Welsh Government.
"There is no doubt Wales has a
talent for producing top quality, flavoursome food and drink.
Food is an important part of the Welsh way of life and is
inextricably linked to our culture; indeed it is part and parcel of
our DNA."
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