A fast-growing food wholesaler is opening a new depot in Carmarthen as part of a \u00a36 million expansion plan.<\/p>\n
Overall Harlech Foodservice \u2013 which has other bases in Criccieth in Gwynedd, Chester and Merthyr Tydfil – will be creating 150 new jobs, with 15 of them in South West Wales.<\/p>\n
Harlech has already appointed Nick Sullivan, who has three decades\u2019 experience in the food supply sector including 23 years with food distribution giant Bidfood, as the Regional Sales Manager for the patch.<\/p>\n
The company is in the process of recruiting five \u00a0new field sales staff and nine new drivers to work in the area.<\/p>\n
Opening the new Carmarthen depot was spurred by the company\u2019s growth over the past three years which has seen sales increase from \u00a332 million to a record turnover of around \u00a350 million, with profit at an all-time high of more than \u00a32 million.<\/p>\n
According to Harlech, the expansion is being driven by the growing demand from customers in South West Wales, particularly in the hospitality sector.<\/p>\n
Managing director David Cattrall said they were keen to respond to the challenges faced by hotels, pubs and restaurants with next day deliveries and \u201caggressively competitive\u201d prices.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cHarlech are disrupting the established way foodservice companies operate by changing the common practice of inflated list prices and increasing ‘negotiated’ prices without notice by offering transparent and competitive prices and excellent service to all our customers<\/p>\n
\u201cAs part of our Trust our Prices campaign, we also guarantee that the prices of around 200 lines are locked in for several months, rather than sneaking prices up without notice, after \u2018negotiation\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand how unpredictable trade can be for our customers so they can order up to 10pm, once their service has finished, and we deliver to premises the following day, up to six days a week, enabling chefs to plan their menus with confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Nick Sullivan, originally from Swansea, he\u2019s\u00a0 looking forward to the challenge of leading Harlech\u2019s expansion in South West Wales.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI wanted to work for a Welsh food supplier and I see a major opportunity to expand in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like the family history behind Harlech and how focused they are on customer service.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see this as a fantastic opportunity to expand their market and to offer businesses in the region an alternative Welsh supplier.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a massive opportunity here to bring the knowledge and expertise Harlech have developed successfully over the years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey deliver a top class service which I\u2019ve never seen anything like before. Their focus on their customers was what really impressed me and it\u2019s exciting to be a part of the launch of this venture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harlech\u2019s Head of Sales, Chris Gregson, added: \u201cHaving a base in Carmarthen is a key part of our \u00a36 million growth plan which will create 150 jobs across the business and give us a strong presence across Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see South West Wales as very similar to our heartland in Gwynedd with a strong tourism and hospitality sector which we are very well set up to serve as well as education and health services which we are also experienced in catering for.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are looking to bring more choice to South West Wales with prices you can trust and benchmark against the competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also take great pride in delivering high quality customer service and that is something that is also a key factor underpinning this exciting new phase in the company\u2019s continuing expansion.<\/p>\n
\u201cHarlech Foodservice is a proudly Welsh company and opening the depot in Carmarthen means we can now serve the whole of the nation with the same level of high quality service, allied to fantastic products at hugely competitive prices.\u201d<\/p>\n