ORGANIC dairy brand Daioni Organic will be cementing a significant relationship with China at this year's Royal Welsh Show.

Three years ago the north Pembrokeshire-based business became the first British organic dairy brand to enter the Chinese market, and the company will be welcoming Daniel Zhou, the managing director of one of China’s biggest food importers on his first visit to Wales.

During his stay Mr Zhou will visit the Royal Welsh Show at Llanelwedd on Tuesday, July 19.

Goodwell China Marketing Service Co Ltd is the sole distributor of dozens of top international brands – including Daioni Organic – operating from its centres in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangdong as well as through its network of hundreds of sub-distributors across the region.

The company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dah Chong Hong Holdings, works with prominent international brands and devises specific marketing campaigns to target the right audiences and build strong brand presences.

“We are honoured and delighted to welcome Mr Zhou to Wales, and what better introduction could he have to our country and our farming industry than the Royal Welsh Show,” said Laurence Harris, Daioni Organic’s founder and managing director.

“Entering the Chinese market has taken a lot of hard work and determination and we are proud to have been the first British organic dairy company to export to China, and to be trailblazers for other UK brands.”

During his visit to Wales Mr Zhou will also visit Ffosyficer Farm, at Abercych near Boncath, home of the Daioni Organic brand and the Harris family who have been running the farm for over 70 years.

Said Mr Harris: “We are keen to show Mr Zhou the passion and pride Welsh farmers and producers have in their products. The Royal Welsh Show is the showcase for our industry and Mr Zhou will be able to experience the skill and expertise that go into creating world-class food and drink.”

Mr Zhou said he was very much looking forward to his first visit to Wales and the Royal Welsh Show, and learning more about the Welsh people and culture.

The purpose of his visit he said is “to understand what opportunities Wales could offer in agricultural related industries with China.”

As yet he said Welsh companies have no clear identity in China and the challenge for Welsh producers looking to export to China are “to establish awareness and reputation.”

Opportunities Mr Zhou said do exist for Welsh exports to China, particularly in terms of “quality, safety and accountability.”

The Daioni Organic story began over 40 years ago when the brand’s founder and managing director, Laurence Harris, took over Ffosyficer Farm, which was then just 120 acres.

In 2002 the farming business completed its conversion to organic status and organic company Trioni Ltd was formed, and the company began selling a range of fresh organic milk and cream.

The following year saw the launch of Daioni Organic - the first range of flavoured organic milk in the UK. Created as a healthy alternative to fizzy drinks and sugary juices, the award-winning Daioni Organic was ahead of its time in offering an organic, natural, flavoursome drink with a low sugar content. Available in three flavours – strawberry, chocolate and banana – the drinks quickly became a hit with customers across the UK.

Proud of the heritage of the brand and provenance of its products, expansion overseas was always part of the Daioni Organic plan, and in 2008 the company took its first steps into the international marketplace.

As a result from growing demand in export markets, Daioni Organic also introduced a range of organic UHT/long-life plain milk made from 100% organic milk for Daioni Organic farms. It provides flavor and quality of its fresh milk but with an extended shelf life and is targeted for export markets.

With its own sales team in Mainland China, and the opening earlier this year of an office in Shanghai, Daioni Organic is building on its success adding shipments to Vietnam to its burgeoning export portfolio which also includes Singapore and the Middle East.