The RWAS Welsh Food Enterprise Award is a new annual award in memory of the late Mr Bill Ratcliffe OBE FRAgS who was associated with the Society for upwards of sixty years and was a director for over thirty years.

One of his key interests was food, particularly those farm businesses that have diversified and developed markets and outlets to sell their produce directly to consumers.

The new annual award for the Best Welsh Food and Drink Producer/Seller Exhibiting at the Royal Welsh Show, was announced in yesterday’s awards ceremony (19^th July 2022). The Society are delighted that both of Mr Ratcliffe’s sons, Alistair and Anthony, were able to join the awards ceremony and have judged this year’s competition with Mr Gareth Roberts, Society Board Member.

This year’s show has been the first opportunity to judge the new competition. Judging took place on the first day of the Show, with a total of nineteen businesses entering the competition. The winner of the RWAS Welsh Food Enterprise Award for 2022 is Mon ar Lwy – Taste of Anglesey.

Mon ar Lwy – Taste of Anglesey, is a small business on Anglesey that have diversified their farming business and now create luxury dairy ice creams on the farm using jersey milk and Welsh cream.

Founder and owner of the business, Helen Holland was a teacher for 35 years and diversified the farm fourteen years ago after the bereavement of her father. This year they are using top-quality jersey milk from a newly established herd on Anglesey. Helen described how they use the best produce to create the best products, the jersey milk is like ‘liquid gold’.

Commenting on becoming the first business to win the award, Helen said “We are over the moon. It is such a great boost after the last three years post-pandemic.” Helen is thankful for the return of the Royal Welsh Show, being a regular trader for the past fourteen years.

The Society acknowledges with grateful thanks to the sponsorship of the Award by Mr Alistair Ratcliffe and Mr Anthony Ratcliffe and families.