Food & Drink
Croeso! Two-day Swansea festival attracts big name chefs, music and celebration of all things Welsh

A two-day festival is coming to Swansea with some big-name chefs, live music and a lot of fun.
Swansea’s festival celebrating all things Welsh, the Croeso Festival will be packing lots of excitement into the city centre when it returns on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 February.
The free event is organised by Swansea Council. Councillor Robert Francis-Davies, cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: “We’re excited to be bringing this event to Swansea.
“It’s a great opportunity to showcase some of our fantastic food and drink and also attract new people into the city centre to see some of the chefs in action and experience something new in Swansea.”
Visitors heading to Croeso, held each day between 11am and 4pm, can expect to enjoy an exciting line-up of entertainment and cooking demonstrations that will get taste buds tingling. What’s more, it is free to attend, so you can just wander around the city centre venues and tap into what you fancy.
Food passion on the menu
Welsh food and drink is at the heart of Croeso, with kitchens in both the centre of Swansea Market and a dedicated marquee in Portland Street for a packed programme of cooking demonstrations.

Heading the line-up of celebrity chefs and home cooks will be Great British Menu’s Hywel Griffith, Nathan Davies and Bryn Williams alongside TV’s Dirty Vegan, Matt Pritchard, and Samantha Evans and Shauna Guinn from Sam and Shauna’s Big Cook Out.
The former frontman of MTV’s Dirty Sanchez is now a vegan chef and ultra-athlete who loves to show how incredible, nourishing and easy to cook vegan food really is. Matt will be showcasing amazing plant-based food that tastes, in his words, ‘banging, on Saturday, at 11am in the market and 1pm at Portland Street.

Following an illustrious career working at some of the UK’s top restaurants, Hywel Griffith opened Beach House in Oxwich in 2016 and has since won several awards, including a Michelin Star. Hywel has two Saturday slots, at noon in the market and 2pm in Portland Street.
Bryn Williams has worked in some of the most prestigious kitchens in London, including under Marco Pierre White at The Criterion and Michel Roux at Le Gavroche. Bryn is now the chef-patron of Odette’s in London’s Primrose Hill and at Porth Eirias, a beach-front restaurant, cafe and bar in north Wales. He will be sharing his passion for fresh Welsh produce on Friday in the market at 11am and Portland Street at 1pm.
Head Chef of SY23 in Aberystwyth, Nathan Davies has represented Wales in BBC’s Great British Menu. His food style is seasonally driven with an emphasis on big flavours. Nathan will be using the best produce Wales has to offer in the Croeso kitchen on Friday, at noon in Portland Street and 2pm in the market.

Restaurateurs, writers and now TV presenters, Samantha Evans and Shauna Guinn’s American BBQ style of cooking has gone proven to be popular with Welsh audiences regularly tuning in for Sam and Shauna’s Big Cook Out, which teaches communities how to cook big fiery feasts. Sam and Shauna will cooking up a storm in the Croeso kitchen in the market at 3pm on Saturday.

Great British Bake-Off semi-finalist, Jurgen Krauss will be baking a treat in the Croeso kitchen on Saturday at 12pm in Portland Street and 2pm in the market.
The German-born resident of Sussex, known for his bread-baking talents, endeared himself to viewers and was named star baker on three separate occasions during his run, and had been considered by many to be the favourite to win the competition.
Live music is only part of the entertainment
The sounds of original Welsh music will bring Castle Square to life. Bringing the best of Wales’ contemporary scene to the Croeso stage will be singer-songwriters like Cerys Hafana, Derw, Dafydd Dedd, Tapestri, Mabli Gwynne, Bwca and Pwdin Reis.

There’ll be a fun atmosphere at Croeso with giant rugby players and daffodils walking about, so why not say hello to the cheerful stilt walkers? Get your face painted free, drop into an arts and crafts workshop on the Annibendod bus, or follow the St David’s Trail to bag yourself a prize.
Head to the Cwtsh Marquee for family activities presented in Welsh. You can find out more about Welsh, and how you can start learning the language. And, with entertainment like Mellin Theatre Arts, S4C’s Cyw, and the Welsh Elvis, Wynne Roberts, there really is something for everyone at Croeso.
(Lead image: Swansea Council)
Food & Drink
Chicken products recalled at a dozen national retailers due to salmonella fears

The Food Safety Authority (FSA) has issued a recall notice for cooked chicken sandwiches, wraps and other products sold at TWELVE major retailers due to salmonella fears.
The products were supplied by food producer Cranswick Country Foods who manufacture own-brand products for a number of supermarkets and food outlets.
In a statement the FSA said: “Cranswick Country Foods are recalling several products containing chicken because salmonella has been found in some of the chicken used to manufacture these products.
“As a precaution additional products are also being recalled whilst investigations continue.”
Products sold by Aldi, Waitrose, Amazon, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, Costa, Cafe Nero, M&S, Starbucks, Shell, One Stop and Tesco are all affected by the warning.
Aldi Chicken & Stuffing Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Aldi Chicken & Sweetcorn Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Aldi Chicken and Bacon Caesar Wraps Mixed Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Waitrose Chicken & Bacon Caesar Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Waitrose Deep Filled Roast Chicken & Bacon Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Waitrose Deep Filled Roast Chicken & Stuffing Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Waitrose Entertaining Meat Roulade Wrap Selection Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Waitrose Essential Chicken Mayo Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Waitrose Roast Chicken & Bacon Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Waitrose Roast Chicken & Stuffing Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Waitrose Roast Chicken & Sweetcorn Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Waitrose Roast Chicken Salad with Salad Cream Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Aldi Chicken and Bacon Caesar Wrap Triple Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Use by Amazon Arabiatta Chicken Pasta Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon BBQ Chicken Hot wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Chicken and Bacon Caesar Baguette Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Chicken and Spinach Protein Pot Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Chicken Caesar Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Chicken Tikka Bites Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Chicken Triple Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Harissa Chicken and Grain Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Aldi Chicken Fajita Triple Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Amazon Katsu Chicken and Coconut Slaw Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Lemongrass Chicken Grain Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Mexican Chicken Mini Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Sweet Chilli Chicken Noodle Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Thai Chicken Hot Box Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 Amazon Tikka Chicken & Masala Potato Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Sage & Onion Chicken Breast Slice 180g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Café Chicken & Bacon Topped Toastie Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Cajun Chicken Grills 180g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chargrilled Chicken Slices 160g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 Aldi Chicken Beechwood Smoked Bacon and Stuffing Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chargrilled Chicken Slices 300g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chargrilled Salt & Chilli Thigh Fillets 150g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chicken & Sweetcorn Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chicken and Bacon Sub Roll Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chicken Fajita Triple Wrap Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chicken Salad Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chicken Triple Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chicken with Pork, Sage & Onion Stuffing Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Chicken, Bacon & Caesar Wrap Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Classic Sandwich Platter Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 12 May 2022 Aldi Eat & Go Chicken and Bacon Club with Mayo Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Classic Triple Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Coronation Chicken Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Firecracker Chicken Slices 160g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Flamegrilled Chicken Grills 180g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Flamegrilled Chicken Mini Fillets 170g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Garlic & Herb Chicken Breast Slices 180g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Gluten Free Chicken Caesar Wrap Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Gluten Free Sandwich Platter Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 12 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Grilled Tandoori Chicken Thigh Fillets 150g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Jerk Chicken Wrap Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 Aldi Eat & Go Classic Selection Chicken Salad, Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato Prawn Mayonnaise Sandwiches Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Kansas City BBQ Wings 486g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Meat Sandwich Platter Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 12 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Mexican Chicken Mini Fillets 170g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Piri Piri Chicken Mini Fillets 170g Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 20 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Spring on the Lemon Chicken Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Thai Red Chicken Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s Wrap Platter Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 12 May 2022 By Sainsburys Chicken & Bacon Sandwich Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 By Sainsbury’s TTD Greek Chicken & Tzatziki Premium Wrap Use by All use by dates from 3 May up to and including 14 May 2022 Caffé Nero Chargrilled Chicken Salad Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 Aldi Flavoured Mini Chicken Fillets; Mango Curry & Shwarma Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022 Co-op Chicken & Bacon Caesar Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Co-op Chicken & Sweetcorn Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Co-op Chicken and Stuffing Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Co-op Chicken Mayo Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Co-op Coronation Chicken Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 14 May 2022 Co-op Oriental Chicken Curry with Egg Fried Rice 400g Use by All use by dates up to and including 20 May 2022 Co-op Oriental Chow Mein 375g Use by All use by dates up to and including 20 May 2022 Co-op Oriental Sweet and Sour Chicken with Egg Fried Rice 400g Use by All use by dates up to and including 20 May 2022 Costa British Chicken Fajita Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Costa British Roast Chicken & Bacon Classic Toastie Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Aldi Roast Chicken & Bacon Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Costa Chicken & Chorizo Stonebaked Panini Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 ‘Jamie Oliver deli by Shell’ Spicy Chipotle BBQ Chicken Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 M&S 14 Piece Classic Sandwich Platter Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 M&S Chicken & Bacon Caesar Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 M&S Classic Mini Roll Selection Use by All use by dates up to and including 12 May 2022 M&S Deli Filler Coronation Chicken Use by All use by dates up to and including 17 May 2022 M&S Made Without Wheat Gluten Free Chicken & Bacon Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 M&S Roast Chicken & Bacon Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 M&S Roast Chicken & Salad Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 M&S The Café Classic Selection Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 Aldi Roast Chicken Salad Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 M&S The Café Gluten Free Chicken Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 M&S Honey and Mustard Chicken Pasta Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 M&S Chicken and Bacon Layered Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 M&S Chicken Caesar Salad Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 One Stop BBQ Chicken Chunks 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022 One Stop Sliced Roast Chicken Breast 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022 Starbucks Coronation Chicken Sandwich Use by All use by dates up to and including 13 May 2022 Tesco BBQ Chicken Breast Pieces 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022 Tesco Chicken Breast Slices 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 20 May 2022 Tesco Chicken Breast Slices 180g (Express) Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022 Aldi Sweet Chilli Chicken Triple Wrap Use by All use by dates up to and including 15 May 2022 Tesco Chicken Breast Slices 360g Use by All use by dates up to and including 20 May 2022 Tesco Coronation Chicken Pieces 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 18 May 2022 Tesco Fajita Chicken Breast Mini Fillets 170g Use by All use by dates up to and including 18 May 2022 Tesco Flame Grilled Chicken Breast Mini Fillets 170g Use by All use by dates up to and including 20 May 2022 Tesco Flame Grilled Chicken Thins 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 18 May 2022 Tesco Garlic & Herb Chicken Breast Mini Fillets 170g Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022 Tesco Piri Piri Chicken Breast Mini Fillets 170g Use by All use by dates up to and including 18 May 2022 Tesco Piri Piri Chicken Breast Pieces 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022 Tesco Sliced Chicken Breast with Sage & Onion 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022 Tesco Tandoori Chicken Pieces 180g Use by All use by dates up to and including 19 May 2022
A full list of products affected is available on the FSA website.
The FSA added: “Our advice to consumers If you have bought the above products, do not eat them. Instead, return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund.”
(Lead image: Lara604 / CC BY-SA 2.0)
Food & Drink
Supermarket Aldi to stock Ukrainian beer with profits going to humanitarian relief

Supermarket Aldi has announced it will sell Chernigivske, Ukraine’s most popular beer brand, in stores nationwide.
Priced at £9.99 for a pack of ten 440ml cans, all profits from sales will go towards humanitarian relief in Ukraine.
Brand-owner AB InBev is guaranteeing at least $5m from the initiative, with funds distributed across designated NGOs.
Chernigivske, also known locally as “Che”, is considered a national treasure in Ukraine.
Originally brewed as a gift to celebrate the 1,300-year anniversary of the city from which it got its name, Chernigiv, it remains the number one beer brand in Ukraine.

Like many Ukrainian businesses, the Chernigiv brewery closed its doors at the end of February. However, the brand has since started producing its lager in three breweries across Europe, with plans to open additional locations across the globe. Aldi proudly stands in partnership with Chernigivske, stocking the beer across stores nationwide, making every can count.
“Che” is a crisp and refreshing lager, originally brewed with character that perfectly balances strength and spirit; fruity aromas highlighted with light hoppy notes. It is a traditional Ukrainian lager loved and shared by generations of Ukrainians.
Chernigivske lager is available in Aldi stores from 1st May, £9.99 for 10 x440ml and available as a pack of 4 from mid-May, while stocks last.
Business
Lidl offers ‘finders fee’ for new supermarket sites – with Swansea one of their top targets

Budget supermarket Lidl has announced it’s on the lookout for new sites across the country – and is calling on the public to help.
The discounter, which is investing £1.3 billion in its expansion across 2021 and 2022, has revealed that it is offering a finder’s fee to members of the public who successfully identify suitable sites for new Lidl stores.
The fee is either 1.5% of the total freehold purchase price or 10% of the first year’s rent for leaseholds, which would equate to £22,500 for a completed £1.5m site purchase.
The news comes as Lidl publishes its annual list of locations across the country where it is interested in acquiring sites for potential store developments – with Swansea featuring highly.
The list includes, amongst many others: Bristol, Derby, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford, Southampton, Swansea, Birmingham, Sheffield, Cambridge, Edinburgh
Since the beginning of 2022, Lidl has already opened 23 new stores. In Swansea it is looking to open new stores in Fforestfach, Mumbles, Killay and Pontarddulais. It is also looking to relocate its existing Penlan store.
The discount retailer has already submitted planning applications for new stores in Blackpill and Parc Trostre in Llanelli.
In March 2022 it became the 6th largest supermarket in the UK.
Richard Taylor, Chief Development Officer at Lidl GB, said: “We know that the majority of British shoppers still love doing their shopping in person and we are as committed as ever to opening new stores and enhancing our existing ones.
“We’re opening an average of one new store a week, which is incredible, and our teams have done a phenomenal job of keeping that pace going over the last couple of years. But there are still communities up and down the country that are telling us how much they want – and need – a Lidl store.
“We work with some of the best people in the industry to identify new sites, but we also know how engaged our future and existing customers are and we want to build on this.
“Our finder’s fees are, therefore, available to absolutely anyone that can identify a viable option for a new store that we’re not already aware of, and we welcome any suitable suggestions that will help up us to meet our ambitious target of 1,100 stores by the end of 2025.”
Members of the public who know of potential sites are encouraged to check details against Lidl’s site requirements and contact the supermarket’s Property team with further details.
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