An eye-opening event discussing the future of food and its importance will take place at St Asaph Cathedral later this month.

The half-day conference on Wednesday 21 May, will hear from researchers, decision-makers and community workers explaining why the way we produce and consume food is crucial for health, the environment, and society as a whole.

It’s being organised by the Flintshire-based social business, Well-Fed, which works across north Wales to ensure everyone, whatever their income, has access to healthy, affordable food. The company uses no Ultra Processed Food (UPF) in any of its meals.

Among those speaking at the conference is Jenny Rathbone MS. Jenny currently chairs the Senedd’s Equality and Social Justice Committee and is also a member of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee. She will be joined by Emma Boyland, a Professor of Food Marketing and Child Health in the Department of Psychology at the University of Liverpool along with Clare Budden, CEO of Clwyd Alyn Housing Association and Natalie Taylor, a Lecturer in Public Health Nutrition at the University of Chester.

The director of Well-Fed, Robbie Davison, will also speak on the day. Looking ahead to the conference he said: “The event at St Asaph Cathedral is an opportunity to bring together key local services, including housing associations, local council community teams, local church groups and other stakeholders, to explore food advertising and the impact it has on us all, together with innovative approaches to good food access, sustainability, and resilience.

“Through expert-led presentations and discussion, the day will look to solve how people of all incomes can eat well. The whole day will revolve around good food making a difference and how local supply chains can bring that difference to life.”

St Asaph Cathedral is to be the location of a new meal locker, a refrigerated outdoor locker, where Well-Fed recipe packs and staples can be delivered for customers to collect at a time that suits a busy lifestyle. The lockers will help more people access good quality affordable ingredients to be able to cook easily at home, instead of relying on UPF convenience food. Denbighshire County Council has granted planning permission for a locker to be placed in the Cathedral carpark on Upper Denbigh Road meaning people living and working nearby or those passing along the A525 can easily order and collect meals, ready to cook at home.

The Engagement Officer for the Diocese of St Asaph, Sarah Wheat, said: “I’m delighted that St Asaph Cathedral will be receiving one of Well-Fed’s very first meal lockers. We know how important good food is to people’s health and well-being and being able to access it conveniently at affordable prices is vital to people today.”

A date for the installation of the meal locked is still to be confirmed.

The Future of Food and Why it Matters conference at St Asaph is open to decision-makers, frontline workers or anyone passionate about improving food systems. It takes place on Wednesday 21 May from 11.30 – 3.30pm. You can register for a free ticket (which includes lunch) at The Future of Food and Why it Matters Tickets, Wed 21 May 2025 at 11:30 | Eventbrite

St Asaph Cathedral is one of the main heritage attractions along the A55 corridor and features on the brown tourism signage from that route. It receives thousands of visitors each year both for regular services, as well as events, conferences, concerts and festivals.

St Asaph Cathedral is one of the UK’s smallest ancient Cathedrals. The current building dates from the fourteenth century and was instrumental in the preservation of the Welsh language. It displays an original copy of the William Morgan Bible which dates from 1588.

St Asaph Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of St Asaph, one of the six Bishops of the Church in Wales, an autonomous Province of the worldwide Anglican Communion.