Harlech Foodservice has acquired fruit and vegetable wholesaler Oren Foods in a move that will “fill a gap” in its product range.
Oren was founded 45 years ago as Ffrwythau DJ Fruit by Dei and Cheryl Jones. It was rebranded as Oren in 2021, and for the past 12 years has been run by their son Gethin Dwyfor.
The business supplies Gwynedd and Anglesey schools and care homes, as well as restaurants, hotels, cafés, nursing homes and B&Bs across north Wales.
“Gethin and his team will bring the valuable knowledge and experience of their products and the customers they have gained over the years,” said Harlech Foodservice MD David Cattrall. “We don’t have a fresh fruit and vegetable offer and this now gives us a total foodservice solution for our customers.”
Dwyfor will remain in his role and continue to be involved in the business.
He said: “My dream was for a partnership with a locally based company and that has happened. I’ve run the business for 12 years and this will now be a new challenge for me with a bigger business.”
The Welsh food supplier, which expects to have fully integrated Oren Foods into its main site by September, has offered all staff at Oren their jobs on the same terms.
“It was always going to be a condition that our staff could keep their jobs and Harlech have always given me that assurance,” Dwyfor added.
Cattrall said: “Oren staff that are happy to come down the road will be made welcome and it’s our hope that they will all come.”
The addition of the Oren team will take Harlech’s staff numbers to 300, and with its 12 delivery vans, the foodservice supplier will have a fleet of 65 vehicles delivering up to 5,000 product lines across Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands and the north west.
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