The Farmers Mart Oct/Nov 2015 - Issue 42 | Page 20

Farm News

Chinese delegates visit British Wool industry
»»A delegation of Chinese
wool industry representatives
headed for the UK this summer,
visiting a number of key
aspects of the UK wool supply
chain hosted by British Wool
Marketing Board (BWMB).
The delegates, who come
from a wide range of Chinese
textile organisations came to
gain a greater understanding of
the wool industry as a result of
the significant increase in the
volume of UK wool exported
to China in recent years, says
BWMB chief executive officer
Ian Hartley.
“With exports of British Wool
to China now accounting for
about 30 percent of auction
sales, it is important for the
Chinese industry to learn more
about British Wool. We are,
therefore, pleased to host this
study visit, organised by the

Meanwhile, Zhou Ge of the
JiangYin Hen Hao Wool Textile
Co said he was keen to gain a
greater understanding of farm
management in the UK, the
grading, packing and testing
processes and British wool
types.

‘great opportunity’

Nanjing Wool Market, to look at
the wool supply chain from farm
to auction here in the UK.”
Delegate Wu, Yan Wen, the
vice secretary of the China
Wool Textile Association
said the visit was an ideal
opportunity to investigate the
possibilities of working more

closely with BWMB and others
in the UK to help China’s
carpet manufacturers build
brand awareness. “British
wool is widely used in China to
produce good quality carpets
and this trip will be beneficial to
all involved in the wool industry
in China and the UK.”

Mr Hartley added that the
diversity of wool types available
in the UK meant there was a
wide range of uses for UK wool
in China and it was important to
demonstrate the stringent quality
control measures in place in the
UK. “Our Chinese customers are
important to the success of the
UK wool trade and this visit was a
great opportunity to engage with
them.”
www.britishwool.org.uk

Yorkshire Wagyu beefs
up business support!
»»The team behind a
fledgling East Yorkshire beef
business is celebrating after
winning £10,000 worth of
business support in a national
competition.
Driffield-based The Yorkshire
Wagyu Company was invited
to pitch to a panel of judges at
The Food Entrepreneur Show
after reaching the final of The
Artisan Food Trail’s Pitch to the
Experts competition recently.
Director Jonathan Shepherd
says he is amazed and
delighted with the win: “This
is a high profile award and
we were very proud just to be
shortlisted - we never dreamed
that we would win! “As a new
business, winning £10,000

of mentoring plus sales,
marketing, finance and legal
advice is invaluable and will
help us to take The Yorkshire
Wagyu Company to the next
level.”
The Artisan Food Trail cofounder and creative director
of design agency, childsdesign,
Graham Childs, said: “We
had over 90 entries to the
competition and shortlisted
six of the most promising food
related businesses.
“Jonathan and his team
gave a very polished pitch
and clearly demonstrated the
potential growth opportunities
for th Z\