Robin accompanied Rhian Owen and Rhian Williams of Siwgr a Sbsis, to a reception in 10 Downing Street celebrating food producers and farmers across the UK on Tuesday 27th February – the eve of their 35th business anniversary.
The event was hosted by Rt Hon Steve Barclay, the Secretary of State for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who thanked those attending on behalf of all those across the UK who promote national food security and local community employment and strength.
The business started and still run by Rhian and Rhian employs 23 people, working from their 5000 sq ft bakery in Llanrwst. They were invited to attend in recognition of all the hard work they have put into their bakery business over the last 35 years.
Friends since school Rhian Owen and Rhian Williams launched Siwgr a Sbeis in 1989. The business started in a small shop in Llanrwst – where they baked and sold their cakes with a team of just three. They cleaned it up themselves with a £10,000 grant from the Welsh government. The business makes a wide range of award-winning cakes, desserts and savoury quiches and its reputation has spread across Wales.
Commenting on the reception Rhian Owen and Rhian Williams said:
“We have come a long way in 35 years since we took the window out of the shop in Watling Street to get the oven in! Even as youngsters, we had an interest in food and starting our own business, but we have had to work hard as well as raise families along the way. We are very much part of the community. It has been a privilege to work with so many people over the years, and we are very lucky to have a fantastic team at the bakery.
Attending the event at 10 Downing St. was truly a memorable experience.”
Following the reception, Robin said:
“I was delighted to be able to invite Rhian Owen and Rhian Williams to the reception at 10 Downing Street.
Recognising the successes of Sigwr a Sbeis in this way isn’t just about their products and business. It is also about the hidden things – the decisions, the business relationships and work behind the scenes – which have all helped the business grow into what it is now and its place within our local community.
It was a real pleasure to meet them having heard so much about their products from so many. My thanks to them both for the contribution they have made to our local economy here in Aberconwy.”
AS Aberconwy yn dathlu 35 mlynedd o Siwgr a Sbeis gyda’r sylfaenwyr yn 10 Stryd Downing
Ar drothwy pen-blwydd Siwgr a Sbeis yn 35 oed, aeth Robin Millar AS Aberconwy gyda sylfaenwyr y busnes, Rhian Owen a Rhian Williams, i dderbyniad yn 10 Stryd Downing a oedd yn dathlu cynhyrchwyr bwyd a ffermwyr ym mhob cwr o'r DU ddydd Mawrth 27 Chwefror.
Cynhaliwyd y digwyddiad gan y Gwir Anrhydeddus Steve Barclay, Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Adran yr Amgylchedd, Bwyd a Materion Gwledig, a ddiolchodd i’r rheini a oedd yn bresennol ar ran pawb yn y DU sy’n hyrwyddo diogelwch bwyd cenedlaethol a chryfder a chyflogaeth mewn cymunedau lleol.
Sefydlwyd Siwgr a Sbeis gan Rhian a Rhian a nhw sy’n dal i redeg y busnes. Maen nhw’n cyflogi 23 o bobl, gan weithio o’u becws 5000 troedfedd sgwâr yn Llanrwst. Cawsant eu gwahodd i’r digwyddiad i gydnabod yr holl waith caled y maent wedi’i wneud yn eu busnes becws dros y 35 mlynedd diwethaf.
Roedd Rhian Owen a Rhian Williams yn ffrindiau ers yr ysgol ac fel lansiwyd Siwgr a Sbeis ganddyn nhw yn 1989. Dechreuodd y busnes mewn siop fach yn Llanrwst – lle buont yn pobi ac yn gwerthu eu cacennau gyda thîm bach o dri. Aethant ati i sbriwsio’r siop eu hunain gyda grant o £10,000 gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae’r busnes yn gwneud amrywiaeth eang o gacennau, pwdinau a quiches sawrus sydd wedi ennill gwobrau, ac mae ei enw da wedi lledaenu i bob rhan o Gymru.
Wrth sôn am y derbyniad, dywedodd Rhian Owen a Rhian Williams:
“Rydyn ni wedi dod ymhell mewn 35 mlynedd ers i ni orfod tynnu ffenestr y siop yn Stryd Watling er mwyn cael popty i mewn! Hyd yn oed fel pobl ifanc, roedden ni’n ymddiddori mewn bwyd ac yn awyddus i ddechrau ein busnes ein hunain, ond rydyn ni wedi gorfod gweithio’n galed, yn ogystal â magu teuluoedd ar hyd y ffordd. Rydyn ni’n rhan o’r gymuned, heb os. Mae wedi bod yn fraint gweithio gyda chynifer o bobl dros y blynyddoedd, ac rydyn ni’n ffodus iawn o’n tîm gwych ni yn y becws.
Roedd mynd i’r digwyddiad yn 10 Stryd Downing yn brofiad gwirioneddol gofiadwy.”
Ar ôl y derbyniad, dywedodd Robin:
“Roeddwn i’n falch iawn o allu gwahodd Rhian Owen a Rhian Williams i’r derbyniad yn 10 Stryd Downing.
Nid cydnabod llwyddiannau Siwgr a Sbeis o ran y cynnyrch a’r busnes yn unig oeddem ni drwy wneud hyn, ond hefyd y pethau cudd – y penderfyniadau, y cysylltiadau busnes a’r gwaith y tu ôl i’r llenni – sydd i gyd wedi helpu’r busnes i dyfu i’r hyn ydyw nawr ac i ennill ei le yn ein cymuned leol.
Roedd yn bleser gwirioneddol cwrdd â nhw ar ôl clywed cymaint am eu cynnyrch gan gynifer o bobl. Diolch i’r ddwy ohonyn nhw am y cyfraniad maen nhw wedi’i wneud i’n heconomi leol yma yn Aberconwy.”