Welsh food wholesaler Harlech Foodservice has seen a near 20% surge in sales to £30m in six months as it continues to expand across the UK.
The firm, which has sites in Criccieth, Chester, Carmarthen, Aberbargoed and Telford, said sales rocketed after opening new depots in south Wales and Shropshire.
Since April, Harlech Foodservice has seen business in south Wales and the West Midlands soar by 68% with 117 new customers.
In the north west, across Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire, 390 new accounts have been opened with sales up 46%.
In north Wales, where it has been trading since 1972, the wholesaler has added 125 new customers and increased sales by 8%.
Since coming out of the pandemic with 120 staff at Criccieth and Chester, that number has grown to almost 300 in the past four years while opening three new sites.
“I am very proud to be part of the team that has been involved in the expansion, and our latest half-yearly results show a clear upwards trajectory in Harlech’s fortunes,” said MD Mark Lawton.
“We needed to expand to become a truly year-round business instead of relying solely on the highly seasonal tourism and hospitality industry.
“We have successfully moved into the public sector, into education and healthcare in particular, so that now we supply all six local authorities in north Wales as well as hospitals across Wales.”
Last year, Harlech unveiled a three-year £6m expansion plan which has created 100 new jobs. The business now runs a fleet of 90 vehicles delivering up to 5,000 product lines to private and public sector customers.
These vehicles have their journeys planned to cut mileage and are equipped with refrigeration systems using a more advanced and eco-friendly coolant. The firm is now on track to reach net zero by 2050.
Lawton added: “As a major employer, we’re proud that our staff, suppliers and customers put money straight back into the local economy where we have our depots.
“What our customers spend with us supports nearby businesses, suppliers and venues – creating a genuine circular economy that helps Wales and borders prosper.”
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