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Brewery scoops top award at business night Winner Connie Parry, of the Hurns Brewing Company, picks up her Export Award from FS4B head of trade Mike Morris at the Regional Business Awards.

HURNS Brewing Company was the toast of the inaugural Regional Business Awards at Llanelli's new Parc y Scarlets stadium.

The Swansea-based firm, which owns the Tomos Watkin Brewery, walked off with the Export Award, sponsored by FS4B, as well as the evening's top prize - the Swansea Bay Business of the Year 2009, sponsored by Swansea Bay Partnership in association with the South Wales Evening Post. More than 300 people from across the area gathered at the Scarlets' new stadium for the awards, organised to celebrate the achievements of local firms across Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Neath Port Talbot.

BBC presenters Roy Noble and Claire Summers hosted the black tie event, which was sponsored by Swansea Bay Partnership in association with the South Wales Evening Post.

Hurns is the largest independent distributor of beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks in South Wales and employs a total of 75 people. The company exports beers to countries as far afield as America, Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, Denmark and Spain.

Connie Parry, chief executive officer of Hurns,
said she was delighted with the awards.

"I'm absolutely over the moon," she added.

"I'm proud, delighted and really chuffed to pieces."

As for the secret of the company's success?

She said: "A combination of sheer determination and having fabulous products."

Chairman of Swansea Bay Partnership and leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Derek Vaughan, said: "The evening was an opportunity to recognise and reward the excellence and world-class businesses right here on our doorstep in Swansea Bay.

"The quality and quantity of this year's entrants has been extremely pleasing."

The category winners were:
New Business of the Year, sponsored by NFU Mutual - Wolfestone Translation;

Environmental Award, sponsored by Eco Technology -Dragon Feeds; Independent Retailer of the Year, sponsored by West Wales Chamber of Commerce - Nolan uPVC;

Corporate Social Responsibility Award, sponsored by UK Steel Enterprise - LBS Builders Merchants; Training and Development Award, sponsored by Careers Wales West -

Derwen Construction, and Innovation and Technology Award, sponsored by Carmarthenshire Training Sir Gar - Connaught Engineering.

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AWARD FOR BREWERY BOSS

A SWANSEA businesswoman has scooped the second monthly Swansea Marriott and Evening Post Business Award.

Connie Parry, of Hurns Brewing Company, picked up the gong which is supported by the West Wales Chamber of Commerce, Swansea University's School of Business and Economics, and Swansea Bay Partnership.

Miss Parry, of Langland, left school at the age of 16 to take over the running of family business Hurns with her brother Phil.

They made up half of the firm's workforce.

By 1995, Hurns had grown into the largest independent distributor of beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks in South Wales and they acquired the Tomos Watkin Brewery in Swansea Enterprise Park in 2002.

They now employ a total of 75 people and export beers as far afield as America, Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, Denmark and Spain.

"I am honoured to win this award on behalf of the company," said Miss Parry.

"It's thanks to the drive and determination of our staff that we've become one of the largest independent wholesale companies in South Wales."

Read the Business in the Bay pages inside Tuesday's Evening Post to find out more of Miss Parry's story.

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PRODUCTS ON SALE IN SINGAPORE AT JONES THE GROCER
(GOURMET GROCERY AND CAFE)

Jones the Grocer

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FFB'S EXPORT AWARDS & NETWORK FORUM 2008

FFB Export Awards 2008 The Food from Britain Export Awards and Network Forum 2008 on 10 December was another great celebration of the success
of British food and drink exporters.

Doing business at the Network Forum Run in association with The Grocer, the sold-out event saw over 300 food and drink exporters, international market experts and other specialists sharing the latest market information in the luxurious setting of the Landmark
London Hotel.

The eagerly-awaited FFB Export Awards revealed new stories of export success that showed that with research, strategy and tenacity, anything is possible in international business.

New Kids on the Block Overall Food and Drink Exporter of the Year, GU Chocolate Puds

Taking the top prize was Gü Chocolate Puds, which can boast of creating a whole new type of dessert in France, the home of patisserie. Gü’s success was particularly noteworthy as they had earlier received the award for New Exporter of the Year, having only been exporting for fewer than three years.

Also walking away with the coveted prizes were:

Drink Exporter of the Year – Britvic International
SME Food Exporter – Gourmet’s Choice
Large Food Exporter – Randall Parker Foods
Best New Exhibitor, sponsored by Primo Group – Eat Natural
Innovation in Export Award, sponsored by IFE09 – Mangajo
New Exporter of the Year, sponsored by UK Trade & Investment – Gü Chocolate Puds
New Welsh Exporter of the Year, sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government – The Hurns Brewing Company
New Scottish Exporter of the Year, sponsored by Scottish Development International – The Speyside Glenlivet Company
New Northern Irish Exporter of the Year, sponsored by DARD and Invest Northern Ireland – Linwoods

Getting into a Spin
Johannes Holtzhausen, CEO of Spinneys Dubai, FFB’s International Retailer of the Year, had wise advice for producers considering the lucrative and growing UAE retail market: a good product will get them interested, but assuring long-term availability is the key to success.

Lord Digby Jones introduced the Export Awards A Lordly welcome
Lord Digby Jones, former Director-General of the CBI and Minister for Trade, provided a rousing introduction to the Export Awards with a strong message to British manufacturers to be proud of their international standing
and to go forth and do business.

Thanks to our sponsors

Food from Britain would like to thank the organisations that sponsored the day and helped to make it such a success.

Allworld Exhibtions

The Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland

Neal's Yard Dairy

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Swansea company triumphs at national export awards

A Swansea company is today toasting its success, having picked up a prestigious Food from Britain Export Award at a glittering ceremony in London. The Hurns Brewing Company, manufacturers of traditionally hand-crafted beers, lager and Celtic Cider, was crowned New Welsh Exporter of the Year, sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government, for its unrelenting commitment to developing its unique business abroad.

Connie Parry of The Hurns Brewing Company enthused:
"We're absolutely delighted to win this fantastic award.
We have spent so much time tailoring our export strategy to make it as targeted to each individual market as possible. We've made it our mission to really get under the skin of each country's retail system by spending time there and learning all there is to know."

Connie continued: "We invested a lot of resource in trade shows throughout North America, Asia and Europe to help secure an international customer base – which has clearly paid off. It's so rewarding to know that our traditional products are enjoyed in countries as far flung as Russia, Hong Kong, Dubai and Singapore. The achievement is testament to all our employees that have worked so hard to make this dream a reality, so I'm dedicating this to them!"

John Adams, Chief Executive Officer of Food from Britain, commented: "The Hurns Brewing Company is an example of the results that intelligence, commitment and hard work can deliver. It's no surprise that the company already has a trophy cabinet bulging with awards and I'm pleased that the team can now add New Welsh Exporter of the Year to the collection.

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Tomos Watkin at the Singapore Beer Festival

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Tomos Watkin's Cwrw Gaeaf in Country Life Magazine

Leslie Geddes Brown has
included Tomos Watkins' Cwrw Gaeaf in her recipe for
Carbonnade (northern French
slow beef stew cooked in beer).

To read the recipie click here

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ReMARKable Palate #152: A Powerful Taste of Wales
Click Here to listen to an interview between American chef Mark C. Tafoya
and Connie Parry from Tomos Watkins at the Fancy Food Show in New York.

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Hurns feature in Colin Pressdee's popular 'Food Wales' book.
Food Wales - a second helping is Colin Pressdee's latest culinary journey around Wales discovering over 150 of the best producers, farmers' markets and shops and over 175 places to eat. This redesigned format guides you through Wales in four regions with over 160 colour photographs. Colin also provides an A to Z of Welsh food. The book will be available at the end of September with 192 pages in paperback format.

Click Here for details

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On the hop: brewery firm goes global
Sink a pint for Connie Parry, chief executive and FD of Hurns - the largest independent producer and distributor of beer in South Wales. Parry and her brother Philip are turning the Swansea-based family firm into an international brand.

Click Here to read the full story

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Hurns magic lager is voted 2008 Wales Regional Winner by Tesco
Swansea based brewer, The Hurns Brewing Company, is celebrating after its bottled Magic Lagyr (lager) came out as the Tesco 2008 Wales regional winner in a blind tasting of new Welsh bottled beers.

Click Here to read the full story

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Summer Beers We're Hot On
Cwrw Haf featured in 10 best warm-weather brews of 2008 by chow.com

Click Here to read the full story

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At the recent launch of the eagerly anticipated Welsh Encyclopedia,
Tomos Watkin was much in evidence...

Click Here to read the full story

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States raise a glass to Welsh
"A taste of Swansea is proving to be a big hit across the Atlantic..."
South Wales Evening Post 3 Sept 2007

Click Here to read the full story

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Paul can have ale of a time in U.S
"A Swansea brewer is hoping singing sensation Paul Potts will raise a
glass with him....." South Wales Evening Post 20 June 2007

Click Here to read the full story

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Hurns Goes Lager !
Yes, it's true... After years of pressure, we've finally given in and decided to produce our very first lager.

Click Here to read the full story

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To Russia with Love – Welsh Brewer exports to Russia
Following a momentous year of success, Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Wales and MP for Neath, is to visit Hurns Brewery on Friday December 8,
to celebrate its success supplying Welsh beer to Russia.

Click Here to read the full story

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Cwrw Braf, Cwrw Gaeaf and OSB win Bronze Awards for 2006 !
Click Here to read

Tomos Watkin's Merlin Stout takes the Champion Stout Award for 2006!
Click Here to read

Welsh Ales Go Global
Click Here to read

It's official 'Prohibition in the United States has ended' !
Click Here to read

Wales Millennium Centre makes Tomos Watkin its beer of choice !
Click Here to read

Tomos Watkin will appear on the front of new Neath RFC jersey
Click Here to read