Sustainable Agriculture Champion Takes Top Award for Outstanding Contribution
Lord Newborough, owner of Rhug Estate, was named 'Entrepreneur of the Year' at the Wales Food and Drink Awards 2025, held in Llandudno, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the industry.
Sponsored by Food & Drink Wales, the award celebrated individuals who are leading the way in Wales' food and drink sector, and those who have demonstrated the ambition to turn bold ideas into successful businesses, and who continue to drive innovation, growth, and resilience across the industry.
Lord Newborough is the driving force behind the Rhug Estate, a 12,500-acre property in North Wales. He is a prominent figure in the world of organic farming and sustainable agriculture, known for his pioneering work and dedication to quality. Rhug Estate has become internationally recognised for its organic produce, with Lord Newborough's leadership playing a key role in its success.
Lord Newborough said:
'It's a tremendous honour to receive this award, especially among such inspiring peers in Wales' vibrant food and drink sector. Building a business in this industry demands vision, resilience, and a deep commitment to quality, and I'm proud of what we've achieved at Rhug Estate.
'This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our team and our shared belief in sustainable, organic farming. We remain ambitious about the future and excited to keep driving innovation and excellence in Welsh food and drink.'
The Wales Food and Drink Awards, now in its fourth year, sees hundreds of Welsh producers and suppliers from across the sector join together to celebrate the achievements of businesses and individuals that are innovating, scaling up, and creating employment in the industry and who will be an inspiration to others.
Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Welsh Government Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, said:
'The Entrepreneur of the Year award is a powerful reflection of the innovation, ambition, and resilience that define Wales' food and drink sector. It celebrates those who are not only building successful businesses, but also helping to shape a dynamic industry that is central to our economy, our communities, and our national identity.
'I warmly congratulate Lord Newborough of Rhug Estate on this well-earned recognition. His leadership and commitment to sustainable excellence are an inspiration to others across the sector.'
The Welsh Government, through Food & Drink Wales offers a comprehensive support ecosystem for food and drink businesses, helping them grow sustainably and competitively. From financial aid and skills training to export assistance and innovation programmes, entrepreneurs benefit from a wide range of resources.
Initiatives like the Scale-Up and Investor Ready programmes help businesses overcome barriers to growth, whether navigating post-Brexit challenges, rising energy costs, or supply chain disruptions. Since 2018, the Investor Ready programme has supported over 240 businesses, raising more than £22 million in investment and achieving a 97% average survival rate among participants. Access to market intelligence has also proven invaluable for businesses looking to expand and enter new markets.
In addition, technical and commercial support through Project HELIX has played a vital role in helping companies innovate and expand. This is complemented by a robust cluster network that brings together producers, suppliers, academia, and government to foster collaboration and accelerate growth. With advanced infrastructure, high-quality raw materials, and strong government backing, Wales has become an increasingly attractive destination for investment in the food and drink industry.
For more information about Food & Drink Wales and the support available, visit https://businesswales.gov.wales/foodanddrink/
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Live
23 minutes ago
- North Wales Live
Welsh tycoon caught on CCTV 'assaulting' lawyer
The moment mining tycoon David Lewis "assaulted" a solicitor was captured on CCTV. Footage shows the millionaire jabbing a finger at Robert Davies MBE while pushing him up against a window. Lewis, whose company operated Merthyr Tydfil's controversial Ffos y Fran mine, was cautioned for assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH). He was later prosecuted for that offence. But the case was dropped, prompting Mr Davies to share CCTV of the incident with WalesOnline. It appears to show Mr Davies, 75, exiting the Newport office of his firm, RDP Law, while Lewis is nearby in a parked convertible. Lewis, 68, gets out of the car and moves his face close to Mr Davies before following him to the side of the building, placing both hands on the solicitor and holding him up against a window. Lewis is the sole director of Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd, which ran Ffos y Fran - the UK's last opencast coal mine - from 2007 until two years ago when it finally closed more than a year after its planning permission had expired. The company, which turned over £75.2m in 2022 and £54.6m the following year, is currently mired in controversy over the land's restoration. Mr Davies has been a solicitor for more than 50 years and was awarded an MBE in 2007 for his contribution to legal services. He is the founder and chairman of RDP Law. The background to the alleged assault, according to Mr Davies, has to do with a civil court case. He told WalesOnline: "In April 2024, proceedings between companies controlled by Lewis, and a third party, were heard by the High Court in London. Both parties had wanted me as a witness; I declined, but appeared when summonsed by the court to do so." After Mr Davies gave evidence in the High Court, he says he was visited by Lewis on the afternoon of May 16 last year while heading out of the RDP Law office. The solicitor claimed in a statement to police: "I noticed there was a black convertible car parked in the bay immediately to the right of the front door of the office as one walks out. "As I was leaving the front entrance, I turned left towards my car and heard someone call: 'Come here you f***ing little s***.' At that I saw Mr Lewis getting out of his car. He walked up to me saying a stream of invectives, came right up against me pushing himself against me and causing me to move backwards." Mr Davies claimed he tried to de-escalate the situation but that Lewis followed him around the corner of the office. He alleged Lewis pushed him against the lobby window, with a hand or arm around the solicitor's neck. Lewis allegedly told him: "You dropped me in it, you lying b******." The solicitor continued: "His face was right up against mine by then and he was forcefully holding me against the wall... I said nothing to him in reply and he eventually released me. I walked back into the office and he remained outside." Mr Davies said he sustained a permanent scar to the neck which he believes was caused by Lewis' ring or a fingernail. Following a police investigation, a PC emailed Mr Davies in February: "Mr Lewis will receive a conditional caution for [assault occasioning actual bodily harm] with the condition to attend a victim awareness course." After being cautioned, Lewis allegedly failed to comply with the condition, which led to a prosecution being brought for ABH. But when Lewis appeared at Newport Magistrates' Court last week, the case was dropped without explanation, leaving Mr Davies appalled. Prosecutor Adam Warner then wrote to Mr Davies: "I am writing to let you know that I have reviewed the charge of assault occasioning you actual bodily harm on May 16, 2024, and made the decision to stop the prosecution. The reason for my decision is that a six-month time limit to commence a prosecution for the appropriate offence has passed." However, no such time limit applies to the offence of ABH. Mr Davies suspected the prosecution service decided a more appropriate charge would be common assault - which is subject to a six-month time limit - but then realised it was out of time. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has now confirmed this. Its spokesman told WalesOnline: "Having received the case from the police, and following a review of the evidence, we concluded that the correct charge was assault by beating. However, the statutory time limit for that offence had already expired. Consequently, the case was discontinued as we could not proceed with the original charge." The explanation has failed to satisfy Mr Davies, who claims no-one from the authorities came back to him to check "the extent, nature or effect" of the injury, which he alleges to be a permanent scar. He said: "It is beyond dispute that Lewis assaulted me. It was caught on CCTV. He subsequently admitted it [by accepting a caution]. Nothing could be clearer. That he has escaped answerability to the court is wholly unacceptable, and I will be asking Gwent Police and the Crown Prosecution Service to account for their apparent failures in enabling this." During the magistrates' court hearing, Presiding Justice Richard Morris granted a request from Lewis' solicitor Matthew Demaid that his legal costs be covered by central funds. When the magistrate confirmed this, Lewis laughed and walked out of the courtroom. Outside court, WalesOnline asked Lewis if he had previously accepted a caution for ABH against Mr Davies. He replied: "I haven't accepted a caution, absolutely not. I've just been found acquitted." When we said we had seen an email from police confirming the caution, his solicitor advised him not to comment further. We have since verified the email. Ffos y Fran mine shut in November 2023 after Merthyr Tydfil council refused an application to extend the time of operations there. Local residents were angered by delays to the closure, which came more than a year after the deadline on its planning permission. Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd originally agreed a plan to restore the 285 hectares of land once mining finished, but earlier this year the company applied for a revised scheme involving a different, "more affordable" restoration process. WalesOnline recently reported that the Coal Action Network, a campaign against coal mining, was planning to take the firm to court over its alleged refusal to fund the original restoration deal and "clean up its mess". In 2003 Lewis, of Sluvad Road in New Inn, Torfaen, was convicted of obtaining £88,000 by deception. Cardiff Crown Court heard the then-46-year-old ran firms with a turnover of £39m a year and became a "pathological gambler", betting on "anything that lived or moved". He placed more than £250,000 in bets over three months in an account with bookmakers Stan James. But after running up debts of £88,000 he lied to the bank that the account had been used without his authority, and was repaid the money. The court heard that Lewis - whose civil engineering business had contracts with various local councils - later paid back the refund he should not have had. Imposing a three-year community rehabilitation course and £33,000 in prosecution costs, Judge Jonathan Durham-Hall KC told Lewis: "You set about a scheme to deprive everybody except yourself, and when the truth was put before you, you wriggled, twisted and whinged." In its 16 years in operation, some 11 million tonnes of coal was extracted from Ffos y Fran. The mine was responsible for 86% of the UK's coal output before it shut. Gwent Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have been approached for comment on Mr Davies' criticism over the ABH prosecution. Lewis has been approached for comment through his solicitor.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Appeal to fight food poverty during summer in Sussex and Surrey
A food redistribution charity is appealing for help to fight food poverty during the school summer Sussex & Surrey has launched its summer appeal amid an expected surge in demand during the school latest impact report revealed that the charity supported more than 28,500 people every week through a network of 248 charities and community groups, with one in five children at risk of missing meals during the summer Slatter, the branch's chief executive, said: "Food insecurity is worsening across Sussex and Surrey, and the need for our support is greater than ever." He added: "Every pound donated to our summer appeal helps us keep our warehouses open, our vans on the road and nutritious food flowing to school holiday clubs, community fridges, shelters and support centres."The charity, which gathers surplus food and redistributes it to those in need, said it provided 6.26 million meals last year, saving local organisations £16.5m in costs.
South Wales Argus
6 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Welsh Secretary heads to US and Canada to boost trade
The countries are among the most significant markets for Welsh exports. Goods and services worth more than £2 billion from Wales go to US and Canada each year, supports more than 50,000 Welsh jobs. The visit follows the signing of the UK's economic prosperity deal with the US in May. Car manufacturer Aston Martin, which has a base in St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan employing more than 600 people, resumed exporting to the US following the trade deal. As part of the trip Ms Stevens will visit Aston Martin's new showroom in New York. Also during the visit the Welsh Secretary will raise awareness of this December's Investment Summit in Wales, encouraging North American business leaders and investors to participate in the event. She will also meet Canadian businesses with an interest in Wales at a roundtable event in Toronto and attend a business breakfast with investors in sport real estate in the UK in New York. Ms Stevens said: 'There are strong and important economic and cultural ties between Wales and North America and it is fantastic to be able to promote these and help strengthen them further. 'I want to build on this progress and while I am in the USA and Canada I will be discussing further opportunities for investment in Wales with companies like Aston Martin. 'My message is very clear – Wales is open for business.' Deputy trade commissioner for North America, Alan Gogbashian, said: 'From sports economy firms to the automotive industry, Wales plays a key role in the UK economy, and has strong trade and investment ties with Canada and the United States. 'It's fantastic to host the Secretary of State for Wales in New York and Toronto to engage with current transatlantic businesses including Aston Martin, and to connect with potential investors ahead of the Investment Summit in Wales later this year.'
