THE BOSS of a mid Wales honey venture has been shortlisted for the 2019 St David Awards.

At a finalist’s reception at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, First Minister, Mark Drakeford, announced that the founder of Newtown-based Hilltop Honey, Scott Davies, had been nominated in the enterprise category.

Now in its sixth year, the St David Awards have celebrated some inspirational individuals and groups within the Welsh community over the years, many of whom are now household names. Past winners include Musician Cerys Matthews, professional cyclist Geraint Thomas MBE, actor and UNICEF ambassador Michael Sheen OBE and most recently, Paralympian athlete, Aled Sion Davies MBE.

Scott Davies, managing director of Hilltop Honey, commented: “I am hugely honoured. We are proud to be representing the Welsh food and drink industry in such a prestigious award.

"Hilltop Honey has experienced considerable growth over the last seven years and has today established itself as one of the UK’s leading and most exciting honey brands.

"Expansion into the 14,000sq ft purpose-built factory in 2017 has enabled us to increase production volume greatly; previously jarring 70,000 units a month, we now have the capability to deliver a capacity of filling 850,000 jars a month.”

With growth, Hilltop Honey has been able to establish relationships with larger retailers and secure product listings across many major multiples including – Tesco, Sainsburys and most recently Morrisons, as well as expanding export.

Securing these major retail contracts has helped to protect the growth and future of Hilltop Honey as a company and allows them to create further job opportunities for people locally – which is an important injection into the local economy.

Mr Davies added: “The rapport we have built with retailers has led to us securing own label contracts within certain multiples. This has further helped to secure the growth and future of Hilltop Honey as a company and allows us to create further job opportunities for people locally – which is an important injection into the local economy.

"Our ambition is to share our honey further, promote our Welsh brand, increase our ever-growing demand and one day become the nation’s favourite honey brand.”

The awards will celebrate people who are making a real difference across a number of categories at a ceremony and dinner held in the Senedd on March 21.