Global honour for local businessman

The man who has been the driving force to bring the Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2026 to Wales has been awarded the highest honour by the chefs’ organisation.

Arwyn Watkins, OBE, President of the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW), received Worldchefs Honorary Life Membership – the first for a Welsh chef - at the congress which was hosted by International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales) from May 16-19.

The prestigious, highly selective honour recognises individuals who have made extensive, exemplary contributions to the culinary profession and the goals of Worldchefs.

Alan Palmer, chairman of Worldchefs Honorary Life Members Committee, said the award recognised Mr Watkins’ career as a professional chef in the British Army, his OBE awarded in 2018 for his contribution to education and training in Wales and his dedication to Worldchefs events over the past 10 years, leading to the Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2026.

Mr Watkins joins an exclusive club, as there are only 86 living Honorary Lifetime Members, despite Worldchefs having a global network of 10 million chefs.

New members are inducted every two years at the Worldchefs Congress & Expo, a tradition that began in 1928, when the inaugural title was bestowed upon Auguste Escoffier.

Mr Watkins, who also receive the Worldchefs President's Medal in 2018 for promoting the advancement and profile of culinary arts in Wales, said: “It’s a huge honour to receive this honour and to be recognised for my contribution to the industry throughout my career. 

“It’s a first for Wales and helps to raise the profile of the Culinary Association of Wales and the country’s world standing. Bringing the Worldchefs Congress & Expo to Wales sets the platform for the next generation of chefs to take the CAW forward to a bright future.”

The Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2026, which has attracted 800 chefs from around the globe to ICC Wales, Newport, is being held in the UK for the first time in its 98-year history.

Securing the event for Wales was Mr Watkins’ goal from the moment he was elected CAW president 11 years ago. Wales lost to Singapore by just four votes in their first bid to stage the 2024 event, which was supported by a video message from King Charles III when he was the Prince of Wales.

It was second time lucky when Wales secured this year’s event, winning a vote against Italy. The next event, in 2028, returns to its birthplace in Paris to celebrate its centenary.

Mr Watkins has a strong commitment to work-based learning and skills development, especially in the hospitality industry.

He was chairman of Welshpool-based Cambrian Training Company, the leading independent provider of apprentices to the hospitality industry in Wales, until last year. He led a management buy-out of the original company in 2002 and continues to serve Cambrian Training Company Group as executive oversight advisor.

A farmer’s son from Llanwrtyd Wells, he served his apprenticeship and spent 14 years in the Army and worked for Stena Line and a Kent catering college before returning to Mid Wales to join Cambrian Training Company in 1998.

Passionate about culinary skills, he coached the Junior Welsh Culinary Team to a Culinary Olympics gold medal in 2004.

PICTURE: Culinary Association of Wales president Arwyn Watkins, OBE (centre) receives Worldchefs Honorary Life Membership from Worldchefs president Andy Cuthbert (right) watched by Brendan O’Neil, a fellow Honorary Life Member.