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Welsh food and drink exports were worth a record £797 million last year, Wales’ rural affairs minister has said.

Minister Lesley Griffiths said 2022 saw the value of Wales’ food and drink exports increase by £157m on the previous year – a 24.5% rise.

The increase exceeds inflation, which averaged 9.1% between 2021 and 2022, according to the Bank of England’s inflation calculator.

This is a slightly larger increase than the UK as a whole, which saw its food and drink exports increase by a value of 21.6% in the same time period.

Meat and meat products were Wales’ highest value exports, generating £265m – an increase of 42% between 2021 and 2022.

Cereal exports rose by 16% to £160m in 2022.

The value of Wales’ food and drink sector exports to the European Union reached £594m, which was a £130m increase on 2021, while exports to non-EU countries grew from £176m in 2021 to £203m in 2022.

France was Wales’ highest value destination for food and drink exports, generating £150m, while other top destinations include the Republic of Ireland (£145m), Belgium (£78m), Netherlands (£52m) and Germany (£51m).

Ms Griffiths also announced the Welsh Government’s new Strategic Innovation Scheme, which aims to provide a range of support services to businesses within the sector.

She said: “The Strategic Innovation Scheme will underpin the Welsh Government’s vision for the food and drink industry.

“As part of this, Project HELIX, which has had a hugely positive effect on Wales’ food and drink industry, helping companies to adopt a more efficient and strategic approach, will continue until March 2025.

“The project’s positive impact is clear to see through the £355 million economic boost it has provided, as well as the number of new jobs it has helped to create and the thousands it has protected.

“It has also been key in upskilling the Welsh workforce, and supported businesses to develop new products.”