HIVE Mind Mead, the Monmouthshire-based drinks producer, has been recognised in Parliament as the Welsh regional finalists for a prestigious small business award celebrating food and drink SMEs.

The business was nominated by MP for Monmouthshire, Catherine Fookes. Finalists were later invited to a parliamentary reception, bringing together MPs, businesses and industry leaders to celebrate the contribution of small food and drink producers to local communities.

The overall winner of the award was announced at a reception in Westminster, with Hive Mind Mead who are representing Wales as regional finalists.

Over the past year, Hive Mind Mead has experienced 48 per cent growth, expanded into new overseas markets, and gained wider recognition across the UK. Its mead range is now stocked in 45 M&S stores nationwide, and 70 co op stores in South Wales while its soft drink, Honeyade, is being sampled for trade in Dubai after its launch into the UK market this year.

The business has also grown its local workforce, taking on two new members of staff.

Hive Mind Mead manages 180 local bee hives, supports six to severn wild bee sites, and breeds its own locally adapted queen bees in Monmouthshire- avoiding the need to import bees and actively supporting biodiversity.

The business plays an active role in the local community, supporting Bees for Development, a Monmouthshire-based charity who promotes sustainable beekeeping around the world, as well as the Monmouth Bee Festival, which takes place each summer.

Catherine Fookes MP, said: “It was a real pleasure to nominate and host Hive Mind Mead for this award. Hive Mind is a brilliant Monmouthshire business that goes from strength to strength each year, and it was great to catch up with the team in Westminster.

“I was also delighted to present their non-alcoholic drinks to some of the judges in the competition, including representatives from The Grocer, Sainsbury’s and the Food and Drink Federation. Llonggyfarchiadau to Hive Mind Mead- very well deserved.”

Hive Mind Mead, said: “We were honoured to be nominated by our local MP Catherine Fookes, particularly given the quality of food and drink that is produced in Monmouthshire.

To be invited to the parliamentary reception and meet the other producers across many different food and drink sectors was fantastic. We are proud to be representing Monmouthshire with our products that are now being sold all over the UK and starting to appear overseas.”

The MP’s Choice: Food and Drink Manufacturer of the Year Award celebrates the extraordinary small and medium-sized enterprises which makes up 97 per cent of the UK’s food and drink manufacturing sector.