Welsh winner scoops National farming award
Welsh organic milk producers, Trioni, from Pembrokeshire have scooped the title of Regional Food Producer of the Year at the 2006 National Farming Awards, in association with the NFU.
The Awards, which celebrate and promote business excellence in farming and growing, were held this week at London's Hurlingham club. The Awards are designed to reward newcomers and those with long esteemed careers, small family run farms or million pound turnover businesses.
Speaking at the Awards, NFU President, Peter Kendall said, "Farmers and growers in this country have not had an easy time in recent years. As President I have had the opportunity to travel around the country and meet farmers and growers, seeing their farms, and I can tell you I am astounded by their skill and enterprise and by the number of world-class businesses in this country."
Trioni Ltd organic dairy was established by Laurence and Eira Harris in 2002. The enterprise started life as the first organic milk round in Wales and now bottles over a million litres per annum. In 2003, the business diversified into producing flavoured milk, called Daioni (Welsh for Goodness), first trialling it in schools as an alternative to fizzy drinks. The milk
can now be found in schools, leisure centres, retailers of all sizes, coffee shops, and Center Parcs and there are further plans to expand the business through adding new flavours and introducing new product sizes.
Accepting the National Farming Award on behalf of Trioni, Laurence Harris said, "I'm very pleased to accept the award in recognition of all the hard work our staff have put into the business over the past three years. It's extremely satisfying to see how far we've come with Daioni since the product was first launched, and in this climate of low milk prices the fact that Daioni is doing well is a boost to everyone who works on the farm.
"We had a thoroughly enjoyable time at the awards, and hopefully the recognition we have received will bring more people to hear about our product."
Along with Trioni, another Welsh business also made it through to the Awards final. NFU Cymru members, Rhesgoed farm shop in Ruthin were runners-up in the Newcomer of the Year category for their achievements in setting up a farm shop and an online service, allowing customers to buy the best of farm produce with the click of a mouse.
Rhesgoed's Huw Williams said, "My wife Sandra and I both had a great time at the Awards and made a number of useful contacts at the event. Although we didn't win an award we are still pleased to be runners-up. We've had an incredibly busy time setting up the new venture, but everything is going well and we're looking to build on our achievements over the forthcoming year."
Also present at the Awards ceremony was NFU Cymru President, Dai Davies, who offered his congratulations to both Welsh enterprises, "Trioni and Rhesgoed farm shop are fine examples of business success, and I'm delighted that they have been recognised by the National Farming Awards. I would like to congratulate both ventures and wish them every success in the future."
