The fully-funded course helping North Wales producers get food-festival-ready

Local food & drink businesses are being encouraged to take the opportunity to join a fully-funded course which could see them selling their produce at Wrexham’s largest food festival.

The course, A Food Or Drink Business Fit For A Feast, is being held at and in partnership with Wrexham Enterprise Hub on Rhosddu Road, which has collaborated with local traders and hospitality companies to design the bespoke training.

The four-week programme will cover topics for first-time traders including insurance, setting up at events, branding & marketing, and cashflow & stock management, ultimately securing participants a free place to trade at food & drink festival Wrexham Feast in front of thousands of guests.

Wrexham Feast is running this year for its second year after local businesses based at Wrexham Enterprise Hub formed a social enterprise to put on sustainable events that bring benefits to the community.

Upon completion of the course, attendees will be cleared to set up a stall at the festival as organisers aim to offer opportunities to small businesses and startups who may not yet have the budget to pay for a place at a conventional festival or market.

Aside from serving up a range of cuisines, Wrexham Feast also aims to bring the local community together with free family activities, food demos, a cookery school, music and entertainment, which, this year, includes motorcycle stunt show The Ken Fox Wall of Death.

Samantha Harris, Head of Supply at Fair Event Management Ltd, the organisation behind Wrexham Feast, said the aim was to give a platform to as many small businesses as possible through the training: “We’re delighted that Wrexham Feast is in a position to be able to support local food and drink producers and are proud to be working with Wrexham Enterprise Hub to help businesses showcase their products.

“As a social enterprise, we’re passionate about investing in businesses and startups through family-focused events within the community. Wrexham Feast is the perfect opportunity for new traders to make connections, generate interest in their products and gain valuable experience in a festival setting.

“We’re encouraging food and drink producers across Wales looking to be part of a food festival with a difference to get in touch and learn more about how we can help you take your business to the next level.”

Pete Rogers, Community Manager at Wrexham Enterprise Hub, said: “We are so proud to have watched some of our hub members work so hard to develop Wrexham Feast over the years, overcoming some huge challenges along the way, and it’s been fantastic to have played a role in making this opportunity possible for prospective traders.

“Enabling small and new businesses to reach the next stages of their journey is key to what we do as a business support hub, so to see our own members leading the way with their own mission to lift up other entrepreneurs is really inspiring – it’s testament to the way our community shares and believes in common values of collaboration and growth.”

A Food Or Drink Business Fit For A Feast is being held at Wrexham Enterprise Hub on Tuesdays for four weeks from 10am to 4pm. The first session will be on Tuesday 2nd August and the final session will be on Tuesday 23rd August.

For more details or to register, you can visit bit.ly/fitforafeast or call 0300 060 3000.

Wrexham Feast 2022 is being held at Llwyn Isaf Field on the 24th and 25th September.