The Culinary Association of Wales (CAW) has today announced Welsh Superstar Katherine Jenkins OBE as its first ever ambassador ahead of Wales hosting a prestigious global event for chefs in 2026.
Katherine, the UK’s most successful classical artist of the century and founder of Cygnet Gin, is taking on the role as the CAW prepares to welcome around 1,000 chefs from across the world to the Worldchefs Congress & Expo at the International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales) in Newport in May 2026.
It will be the first time this major culinary event has been held in the UK.
In addition to being ambassador, Katherine’s partnership with the CAW promotes Cygnet Gin, the sustainable, luxury Welsh gin brand, which she and her artist and social-impact filmmaker partner, Andrew Levitas, launched in 2023.
Cygnet Gin is a CAW sponsor, and the company is devising an exciting, new competition to showcase the culinary potential of the ultra-premium spirit at the 2025 Welsh International Culinary Championships at ICC Wales in January.
Chefs will be challenged to cook up a mouthwatering three course pescatarian and dairy free menu showcasing the versatility of Cygnet Gin in each of the dishes.
Katherine and CAW president Arwyn Watkins, OBE, discussed details of the partnership during a visit to ICC Wales on St David’s Day where they recorded a video interview. They also met Peter Fuchs, group culinary director of The Celtic Collection and ICC Wales, Danielle Bounds, ICC Wales sales director and Colin Gray, CAW vice president and chair of WICC.
The lead up to Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2026 begins in earnest later this year in Singapore, which is hosting the 2024 event from October 20-25. The congress bell will be presented to Mr Watkins who is expected to announce exciting news about an anthem for the 2026 event.
