Newyddion

The company, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, is also signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant at a special ceremony at Caernarfon Castle on Thursday, November 30.

It’s a special commitment which means a lot to former Welsh Guardsman Daniel Jones, from Llanystumdwy, who spent 14 years with the regiment including two tours of duty in Afghanistan where he lost several comrades.

Daniel, 35, who grew up in Porthmadog. Is now a night warehouse manager at the company headquarters near Cricieth, and he said: “It’s really good to see people supporting the Poppy Appeal because it seemed to have dropped off but that pride in our armed forces is coming back.

“I did two tours in Afghanistan and we lost a few comrades including our commanding officer as well as many who were injured but people can sometimes forget about the ones we lose afterwards.

“What you don’t always see on the ones who come home are the internal issues because it’s not just about the ones who passed away. It’s also about the ones who are still suffering.”

Warehouse manager Neil Williams, 49, who lives in Abersoch served with the Gloucestershire Regiment, known as the Glosters and one of the oldest in the British Army.

He said: “It’s great to see the company supporting the Poppy Appeal. It’s something that’s important not just to ex-servicemen like us but to everyone.

“It’s important to remember the sacrifices made and to provide support to those who have served their country and their families.”

Former Army Lance-Corporal Mark Keats, from Oswestry, a Key Account Manager for the company, said: “I’m delighted Harlech have joined the other businesses across the country who have signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

“It will be a proud day for the company when we formally sign at Caernarfon Castle this month.

“When you join up you sign the Oath of Allegiance and in return the country pledges to look after you so you have that reassurance when you become a member of the Armed Forces.

“There are two main principals – that ex-servicemen won’t be discriminated against for employment or housing and that there should be special consideration for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.

“It shows that as a company Harlech recognise the immense contribution service personnel have made for us as a country and that we recognise the value of ex-service personnel as employees.

“These are people who have pledged to put their lives on the line for our country and in return we as society owe them something in return and companies of all sizes have acknowledged this by signing the Covenant and I’m very grateful to Harlech for adding their name to that list.”

They include over 30 per cent off the price of eggs, 26 per cent off baked beans and tomato paste, 20 per cent off butter and 14 per cent off paper napkins and a whopping 50 per cent off Bisto gravy.

Harlech Head of Sales Chris Gregson has overseen the reductions and he said: “We review our prices weekly against some of the biggest wholesalers in the UK, saving our customers time as we’ve carried out the price comparison for them.

“Our list prices were already very competitive but we appreciate that our customers have found it difficult to plan with confidence when faced with a raft of cost increases, so we have listened to them and taken the decision to lock in the prices of many of our biggest selling lines for three months.

“This gives our customers across Wales and into the North West and the Midlands the chance to plan in the knowledge that our food prices will not be going up until January at the earliest.

“They will be staying put or being cut if the prices we pay fall – that will give our customers some certainty in an increasingly uncertain world.

“This is something that is available to all our customers and couples perfectly with our fantastic service which allows customers to order online up to 10pm at night and get up to 6 days delivery each week.”

Harlech introduced six-day delivery last year to enable customers to be more flexible so that if fine weather brought a surge in trade then businesses could swiftly re-stock ready for the next day.

It will also make it easier for those businesses to plan for the busy Christmas period with the certainty that their costs will remain stable and they will be able to maximise profits.

Chris added: “It means they can plan their menus in the knowledge that they will be paying the same amount – or less – for the same products in December as they are now.

“They know what their margins are and they will be the same at Christmas as they are now and if we see the cost of items reduce dramatically then we will move our prices down to pass that onto our customers.

“As a matter of course we review our competitors’ pricing every week and that enables us to always have a competitive list price - and we check those prices so our customers don’t have to.

“We want them to be able to trust our prices and us.”

Stephen Griffiths, Development Chef at Harlech Foodservice, one of Wales’s leading food distribution companies, called in at Ysgol Maes y Mynydd, in Rhosllanerchrugog, to help pupils turn out Italy’s answer to Welsh rarebit.

He had prepared a ball of pizza dough for each pupil and for staff members to join in, rolling them out and topping them with cheese, tomato, mushroom, sweetcorn, peppers, salami and even pineapple.

They clearly enjoyed their work under his expert eye and with a few cooking tips thrown in along the way before the school kitchen staff popped them in the ovens and minutes later out came a selection of tasty-looking pizzas to be popped into boxes to be enjoyed at home.

Stephen said: “This is part of the work we are doing with schools across North East Wales this summer as part of the Welsh Local Government Association 12 days of Food and Fun and at a number of school we are providing pizza-making sessions to give the children a taste for cooking.

“It’s about the field to fork initiative and is such a healthy thing to do and helps them learn about the value of good food and the pleasure you can get not just from eating it but from preparing it too.

“It helps them learn about the value of good, healthy food and we have included at least one vegetable in each pizza and ensured they have the right kind of cheese, mozzarella.

“It’s also important to learn about the right use of quantities – we don’t want too much tomato. No-one wants a soggy bottom.

“It’s so important for young people to learn about the value of good food at an early age and to understand and enjoy preparing and cooking healthy and tasty meals and hopefully it encourages the whole family to get involved.”

The Food and Fun Programme was organised through Wrexham County Borough Council’s Healthy Schools Team and ran from Monday to Thursday for the first three weeks of the summer holidays.

It has had a big thumbs-up from pupils and staff according to Ysgol Maes y Mynydd’s Well-Being Manager Jane Hand who said: “We have been working with Harlech Foodservice and Wrexham County Borough Council to provide healthy breakfasts, snacks and lunches during the 12 days of Food and Fun.

“We are also supporting families in what is a difficult economic climate and as well a taking home a pizza today the pupils will be taking home a bag of store cupboard essentials funded by WLGA and chosen by Wrexham Council and Harlech Foodservice to be healthy and nutritious as well as tasty.

“What we are teaching them is to have a healthy lifestyle for life and the best time to teach them that is when they are young because they really take it on board.”

Stephen Griffiths was impressed with the pupils’ efforts and they were looking forward to taking home them home with Ella Jones saying: “I liked rolling the dough out and putting sweetcorn on it and I’m going to take it home to eat.”

Odin Bowkett-Pullen said: “I cook pizzas at home and I’ve really enjoyed choosing the different toppings and putting them on. I’ll take it home and share it with my dad.

They have featured books by authors from comedian and TV personality David Walliams to Llanrwst’s own Myrddin ap Dafydd and have been organised by Conwy County Borough Council’s Libraries Service.

As well as listening to stories in English and Welsh the children aged up to 11 have taken part in craft sessions and have also tucked in to wholesome and tasty Welsh drinks and snacks provided by Welsh food distribution giant Harlech Foodservice.

The county’s five area libraries at Abergele, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, Llandudno and Llanrwst have held twice-weekly sessions while there have been two sessions each at Cerrigydrudion, Kinmel Bay, Llanfairfechan, Penmaenmawr and Penrhyn Bay.

The events have been a big success according to Principal Librarian and Information Manager Sharon Morgan on a visit to Llanrwst Library where the children and the mums and grandmothers, dads, grandads and carers looking after them loved both snacks and stories.

Sharon said: “We have been holding these sessions through the summer holidays as part of the Summer Reading Challenge to link it to activities to encourage children to read over the summer.

“It helps maintain their reading level over the summer because sometimes schools can see a dip in pupils’ reading levels when they return to school in September.

“They also get a chance to enjoy some craft work and a snack and drink as well, provided by Harlech and it gives the children’s parents and carers a bit of a time out too and we know these activities are popular because they always fill up very quickly.

“The pandemic lockdown was very difficult for children and their families and these sessions have proved to have a good social aspect for parents as well.”

The books and stories are chosen from across the spectrum from authors as diverse as Eric Carle, who created the Very Hungry Caterpillar, and children’s authors in English and Welsh like T Llew Jones, Llanrwst-born Myrddin ap Dafydd, Cathy Cassidy, who now lives in Colwyn Bay, and Leeds-born Tom Palmer who has held author sessions in Conwy.

The refreshments for the events have had a distinctly Welsh flavour with fruit drinks from Radnor Hills, from Knighton, Princes Gate mineral water from Pembrokeshire and flapjacks made by The Pudding Compartment in Flint, all supplied by Harlech Foodservice which has bases at Criccieth, Chester and Merthyr.

Ursula Scurrah-Price, Harlech’s Business Development Manager for Health, Care and Education, said: “The Snack and Story sessions have gone down really well and so have the flapjacks and drinks and we’ve had very positive feedback.

“It’s such a great initiative by Conwy Council to hold these sessions through the summer when it can be difficult to keep young children amused and it’s a real help if mums and dads can bring them along to events like these.

“They clearly really engage with the stories and activities and they seem to enjoy the snacks as well and wherever possible we try to support Welsh producers because food here is high quality and it keeps the Welsh pound in Wales.”

Young mum Rhiannon Owen was at the library with her youngsters Betsie, one, and Stanley, three, and she said: “The children have really enjoyed the events and it’s been really good for them.

“The really like coming to the library which is a really important asset to the town. It’s very family-friendly, much more so than when I was a child.”

Harlech Foodservice’s announcement comes just weeks after it announced that its new Head of Purchasing, a senior management position, would be Josie Swift, who is based at its Chester office.

The three new promotions are at the business headquarters in Llanystwmdwy, near Criccieth, Laura Holland as Customer Experience Manager, Alana Pritchard Business Support Manager, and Ursula Scurrah-Price Business Development Manager for Health Care & Education.

Laura, who lives in Mynytho, near Abersoch, is originally from Stockport and worked in men’s fashion and in marketing after achieving a degree in Surface Pattern at Huddersfield University.

She joined Harlech in 2019, just before the pandemic hit, has worked in a number of roles and said: “The only thing I haven’t done is drive a forklift truck but it means I do know how the business runs.

“I do like it here although working through the pandemic was difficult, especially for our customers because it all went very quiet.

“My degree has turned out to be really useful with a lot of variety and I learned a lot about business and marketing which has proved valuable.

“Living here is wonderful and most of my family are now here including my brother who runs a pub in Abersoch and is one of our customers.

“It’s a lovely part of he world and it’s good that I can progress my career here at Harlech and my experience in different parts of the business is important in helping our customers.”

Alana Pritchard is the new Business Support Manager who analyses a whole range of data from across the company to support the various departments.

She began in telesales in 2017 and became a key account advisor, then a purchasing assistant before becoming a purchasing analyst and now in her new role, offering detailed analysis of how the whole company works.

She said: “It’s all very different and I enjoy it a lot because there’s always something new every day and it’s always interesting – data analysis is a vital tool for business now.

“It’s good to be able to progress – I’ve just bought a house in Clynnogfawr and it’s great to have the opportunity to build a career here.”

While Laura and Alana will be based at Llanystwmdwy, Ursula will have a roving role across North Wales as a Business Development Manager.

Ursula, from Tremadog and now living in Trefor, joined the company on telesales in 2016 and worked there until the pandemic hit and she was furloughed.

On her return she worked in customer support, dealing with schools and care homes and she is now on the road as a Business Development Manager which takes her across North Wales.

She said: “I like the fact that it’s different every day. I’m very much a people person and I enjoy getting to meet and talk to so many different people, often people I’ve spoken to on the phone for the last seven years but never met so that will be good.

“Getting this role also shows that I’ve progressed in the company and I feel I’ve broken the mould in what was a male-dominated area.”

Harlech Foodservice Managing Director David Cattrall said: “These appointments show that as a company we are an equal opportunities employer which rewards ability.

“Quite simply here at Harlech if you’re good enough it doesn’t matter if your male or female and increasingly young women are taking on different roles across the company at all levels and doing them very well.

“It is important too that people who join Harlech Foodservice know that there is a career pathway within the company that can enable them to progress on merit and that’s important in a largely rural area like this.”

It’s part of a Welsh Government scheme which sees pupils from Anglesey, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham enjoy 12 days of activities at their schools in the first three weeks of the summer holidays.

As part of that scheme children at participating schools receive free breakfast and lunch which bookend a morning of fun overseen by volunteer members of staff.

Key Account Manager David Roberts and other Harlech volunteers have helped school staff pack the bags of food and he said: “It’s gone down very well with the schools – they love it.

“It’s not just a question of delivering supplies, we also have to look at the nutritional value of what we provide because this is about healthy eating and at the same time keeping the children interested in what they’re eating.

“It’s no good providing nutritious food that they don’t like because they just won’t eat it so we have to make sure it is tasty as well because much of what we do now with schools and healthcare is about environmental and social benefit.

“This is funded by Welsh Government so we have to ensure that we’re seen to be giving back something to the communities where we operate whether it’s providing meals for schools or for the NHS in Wales.

“That’s a big consideration for us and it’s the right thing to do and at the same time we want to give them nutritious food they want to eat and wherever possible we source that food as locally possible so that the money spent stays in Wales.”

Hayley Jones, Principal Catering and Cleaning Manager for Denbighshire, said: “We have six schools in Denbighshire taking part in the summer Food and Fun programme which provide 12 days of activities, crafts, sport, food and nutrition.

“We have done Food and Fun for the past eight years here in Denbighshire but for the first time at the end of the 12 days each pupil, drawn from primary and secondary schools in St Asaph, Rhyl and Prestatyn, receives a bag of food to take home.

“Food and Fun is open to all pupils and they really seem to be enjoying it and at the end they take home a goody bag including breakfast cereals, pasta, biscuits, baked beans, tinned tomatoes, mayonnaise, stock cubes and the kind of things that can be made into nutritious meals.”

Helen Jones, of Wrexham Council’s Healthy Schools campaign, said: “The scheme runs from Monday to Thursday for the first three weeks of the summer holidays and we have six primary schools taking part with teachers dedicating their free time to supervise.

“It is something we have done in Wrexham since 2016 and we were one of the first local authorities to be involved and this year we have received additional funding for Bags Bwyd.

“This means at the end of the 12 days of activities we are able to send the pupils home with a bag of everyday essentials to help families cope during the current cost of living crisis.

“We have worked with the team at Harlech Foodservice to work out what’s available to provide store cupboard staples to take home as well as providing healthy lunches and breakfasts and on Thursdays the parents are invited into the school to enjoy a heathy, nutritious and tasty meal with the children.”

Harlech Foodservice Director of Healthcare and Education Mark Lawton said: “It has proved really popular with the schools and we’re working with Denbighshire, Wrexham, Flintshire on Food and Fun and with Anglesey as well for the first time and we have a separate scheme running with Conwy Council.

“We don’t just drop the consignments at the school gates either, we bring it in and we help pack the bags too.

“We have also co-ordinated the orders, working with the councils to put the list of products together. It wasn’t just a shopping list for us, we worked on what the bags should contain.

“This summer there will be 600 bags going out in Denbighshire alone and there has been excellent take-up across all four counties with over 2,000 pupils involved and enjoying healthy and tasty food as part of their programme of activities.

Harlech Foodservices has bases at Criccieth, in Gwynedd, Chester and Merthyr Tydfil and between the three locations, the company employs around 200 staff and runs a fleet of vehicles to deliver up to 5,000 product lines to cafés, restaurants, pubs and public sector customers across Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands and the North West.

They are still heartbroken after losing Twm Bryn, from Chwilog, on the Llyn Peninsula, just days after his 21st birthday in October 2021.

His parents Bryn and Bethan Jones, paid tribute to the work of the DPJ Foundation that’s dedicated to helping people in rural communities deal with mental health issues.

Twm’s death has also inspired Harlech Foodservice, one of Wales’s leading food distribution companies, to support the charity.

They have donated £1,000 to the DPJ Foundation with £1 from the sale of every tub of their Welsh Maid ice cream going to the organisation set up to help those in the agricultural sector suffering from poor mental health.

Harlech Director Andrew Foskett is a family friend and his son, Toby, and Twm were close friends from their schooldays.

Bethan Jones, a nurse herself, said: “The problem living where we are there’s little availability of help for people with mental health problems and at the time we weren’t aware of the DPJ Foundation until afterwards.

“I’m just so glad that its profile is being raised now because there’s no health services available. It could have helped Twm and it will definitely help others.

“We need to raise the profile because it’s OK not to feel OK. It’s nothing to be ashamed about.

“It’s really good that a local business like Harlech is supporting the work of the DPJ Foundation in memory of Twm because it’s a brilliant organisation and Twm and Toby were really good friends.”

Twm was a keen cyclist who competed regularly but after an unprovoked attack outside a nightclub in Pwllheli he suffered from depression and was on a waiting list but died before he was able to access support.

Andrew Foskett said: “This is very personal to us because Twm Bryn and my son Toby were best friends from their days in primary school and Twm and his family are members of the local farming community.

“Just because we live in a beautiful part of the country doesn’t make people in rural Wales less likely to suffer from mental health issues.

“In fact working long and lonely hours, often in difficult conditions, can make it all too easy to be affected by depression and anxiety.

“The loss of Twm Bryn has made the work of the DPJ Foundation something very close to our hearts at Harlech and made us want to support the charity.

“They are the Samaritans of the farming world and offer such a support network throughout rural Wales and that has been particularly important through the pandemic lockdown when issues of loneliness and isolation were exacerbated.

“These are the people who grow our food and if we can’t support them who else is going to?

“Food from Wales is renowned for its quality but there can be a price to be paid and the DPJ Foundation are there to support people in the rural community and they have helped so many.”

The DPJ Foundation was set up in 2016 by the family of young Pembrokeshire agricultural contractor Daniel Picton-Jones, a father of two, who took his own life after struggling with depression.

Since then it has helped hundreds of people across rural Wales at the same time as raising awareness of the issue of mental health in the agricultural sector which has one of the highest rates of suicide.

They hold Mental Health Awareness courses, a confidential Share the Load counselling and helpline service, and are active on social media to signpost the ways to get help and show that there is always help available.

DPJ Foundation Charity Manager Kate Miles said: “We are delighted to receive this continued support from Harlech Foodservice, building on their sponsorship of our Tractor Raffle last year.

“It is great that Harlech have decided to donate £1 from the proceeds of the sales of their Welsh Maid Ice Cream tubs to us, but also, by including our logo on the tubs, it is helping us to raise awareness of our services and hopefully will help us to reach more people.

“The fact is that suicide can be prevented and we want to ensure that people know that making a confidential call to our Share the Load helpline can really help. The helpline is available 24 hours on 0800 587 4262.”

It is something that is important to Harlech Foodservice as well – during the pandemic lockdown when there was a dramatic rise in mental health issues across the UK they launched their own mental health support service.

They have a team of trained staff ready to provide the right assistance and ask the right questions if a colleague is showing signs of feeling under pressure.

Harlech, who have bases in Criccieth, Chester and Merthyr Tydfil, employ around 200 staff and runs a fleet of vehicles to deliver up to 5,000 product lines to cafés, restaurants, pubs and public sector customers across Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands and the North West.

For more on the work of the DPJ Foundation go to thedpjfoundation.co.uk

Harlech Foods Ltd is providing a snack and drink for up to 600 children across Conwy County’s ten libraries over the summer holidays.

The Snack and Story initiative started last year as part of the annual Summer Reading Challenge. It gives school-aged children the opportunity to spend time in a library with others their own age, and enjoy a story and snack.

Sharon Morgan, Principal Librarian and information Manager said: “We’re really pleased to be able to run the Snack and Story initiative again this year, it wouldn’t be possible without support from Harlech and the local companies they work with. We hope that children coming into the library will be excited to sign up to the Summer Reading Challenge, the theme for this year is ‘Ready, Set, Read!’”

Harlech Foods Ltd provide catering supplies for all of Conwy County Borough Council schools. They’ve sourced supplies forStory and Snack from local Welsh suppliers The Pudding Compartment, and Radnor Hills.

Stephen Griffiths from Harlech Foods said: “‘At Harlech foods we have a strong ethos of supporting the community wherever possible. We are delighted to be supporting Snack and Story. This project is a great opportunity for us to give something back and to benefit those children visiting the libraries across Conwy this summer.”

Cllr Aaron Wynne, Conwy’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culturesaid: “We’re really grateful to Harlech Foods and their suppliers for helping make the Snack and Story initiative happen in Conwy libraries again this summer. Our libraries are amazing facilities for children and families during the summer holidays, and all year round, and provide much appreciated resources, activities, information and advice for everyone who visits.”

Find out more about this year’s Summer Reading Challenge at: summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

Find out more about Snack and Story sessions at: FREE - Snack and Story Sessions at Conwy Libraries - Conwy County Borough Council

The ground which has played host to touring teams from the West Indies and New Zealand as well as to Glamorgan welcomed 60 pupils from the town’s Ysgol Y Gogarth special school for their own Cricket Festival.

They enjoyed over four hours of cricketing activities under the skilled eyes of volunteers from Llandudno Cricket Club’s men’s and women’s teams as well as from Cricket Wales with barbecue catering provided by club sponsors Harlech Foodservice.

Harlech Development Chef Stephen Griffiths was at the griddle to serve up a tasty selection of sausages and burgers for the 50 staff and volunteers taking part in the event.

Harlech also sent their own team of volunteers led by Llandudno Ladies batter Brittany Loughborough and members of the title-chasing Llandudno Ladies team which is sponsored by the leading food distribution company and their partner, healthy drinks supplier iPro Hydrate.

Brittany, one of Harlech’s team of Territory Account Managers, said: “It’s a brilliant event organised by Cricket Wales and shows how inclusive the game is here with children of all kinds of abilities taking part and enjoying the game.

“There is even table-top cricket for those in wheelchairs though they have been getting involved out on The Oval as well."

“Llandudno Cricket Club have really helped expand the game in the town and now run three men’s and two ladies teams as well as eight junior sides and we have just provided the ladies with new kit.”

The cricket club have long established links with Ysgol Y Gogarth and members have gone into the school to deliver sessions on the game.

Cricket Club Manager Sam Rimmington said: “We just thought why don’t we do a festival for the school that everyone can take part in because we want to involve as many people as possible in the game.

“We have organised it with Joe Lambe, of Cricket Wales, who is a life member of the club and the Lord’s Taverners are also involved and have helped fund the event.”

Even a blustery wind couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the young people and the school’s Sports Co-ordinator, Aaron Jones, said: “It is hugely important to see our students engaging in activity out in the community.

“There’s been an amazing turnout, about a quarter of the school are here and they get so much out of this.

“It’s a big part of the school’s ethos to get our pupils out there and engaging in activities, it’s a reals bonus for them and you can see how happy they all are, not just with the cricket but being here in a new environment and sharing it with their friends."

“We want to encourage them to take part in in physical activity and hopefully see them involved in sport for the rest of their lives and cricket is a game which can help them do that.”

Sue Wells, Cricket Wales Area Manager, said: “It’s brilliant for the pupils to be able to come here from the school and we hope to be involved in future community projects with our partners from the day.

“The game is growing in North Wales across a number of areas with some excellent community programmes.”

Harlech Foodservices has bases at Criccieth, in Gwynedd, and Chester and between the two locations, the company employs around 200 staff and runs a fleet of vehicles to deliver up to 5,000 product lines to cafés, restaurants, pubs and public sector customers across North and Mid-Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands and the North West.

According to Harlech Foodservice, the three-year deal to supply the Welsh NHS with groceries, creating nine new jobs and providing continued stability for the rest of the 200-strong workforce.

The firm, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year and has its headquarters in Criccieth in Gwynedd, will be delivering 450 lines of dry store products like canned goods, pulses and rice to 120 locations across Wales, including general hospitals and community hospitals.

As well as its traditional customer base in the hospitality sector, Harlech also supplies schools across the six counties of North Wales and into the North West to serve up nutritious meals for 150,000 pupils daily.

In addition, Harlech is a major supplier to care homes across North and Mid Wales and has seen significant growth in that sector too.

As a result, the company is on course for record sales this year and as part of its growth strategy has invested £500,000 to increase storage capacity, reconfiguring the racking in its giant freezer and buying “bendy” forklift trucks to navigate the narrower aisles.

Health, Care and Education Director Mark Lawton said that winning the new business from NHS Wales was a major vote of confidence in Harlech.

He said: “It provides us with great stability throughout the year which is a big help in rebalancing our traditional core base of customers in hospitality who are by definition largely seasonal.

“It means we are part of the year-round foundational economy, providing essential goods and services and helping keep the Welsh pound in Wales, making it work hard to boost our nation’s prosperity – something that has been made possible by the enlightened procurement policies of NHS Wales.

“It certainly chimes with our ethos because wherever possible we also use Welsh companies for our support services, whether that’s for recycling, gardening or the electricians we use.

“Securing this contract will also help in terms of our logistics and delivery pattern pan-Wales and will help us minimise our carbon footprint. It’s about shortening the supply chain.

“It’s a real feather in Harlech’s cap and we’re really honoured and hugely proud to be supporting the NHS which does such a brilliant job. It was born in Wales and is one of our proudest achievements as a nation.

“The fact that we have been chosen as a trusted supplier is a real badge of honour and shows that Harlech delivers the gold standard in terms of food distribution, that we are safe, secure and compliant enough to supply hospitals across Wales.

“It sends an excellent message to all our existing customers and prospective customers, giving them reassurance and peace of mind about the quality of our service.”

Head of Operations Ian Evans said: “We see this as an important new contract for Harlech as it will create new jobs - four in North Wales and five in South Wales where we recently opened a new depot in Merthyr Tydfil.

“We have taken on new lorries and some of the posts are driving posts so its an important part of our expansion and strengthens our presence throughout Wales.”

Equally delighted was Harlech managing director David Cattrall whose strategy has included securing additional, all-year round business from the public sector instead of being too reliant on often seasonal demand from the hospitality industry.

He said: “We have been serving NHS Wales for two years and we are pleased to see them showing support for Harlech Foodservice by rewarding us with further contracts.

“This supports our strategy to broaden across Wales using our strong Welsh supply chain, which supports the farming and manufacturing sectors and helps maintain many Welsh based jobs. We hope this is the start of a long term relationship with NHS Wales.”

Harlech Foodservice Ltd has bases at Criccieth, in Gwynedd, Chester, Merthyr Tydfil and between the three locations, the company employs around 200 staff and runs a fleet of 60 vehicles to deliver up to 5,000 product lines to cafés, restaurants, pubs and public sector customers across The North West of England, Shropshire, the Midlands and across the whole of Wales.

University of Chester graduate Josie Swift knows all about food products and about the hospitality industry – she wrote her degree dissertation on the provenance of fish fingers and then ran pubs for brewing giant Greene King.

Josie, 29, originally from Reading but now living in Newton, Chester, switched careers after suffering a knee injury falling into a pub cellar and joined fast-growing Harlech two years ago as a purchasing assistant.

Within six months she was Supply Chain Manager, heading up a team dealing with all the company’s purchasing and based at their Chester office, off Sealand Road with easy access to their target areas for growth, the North West and West Midlands.

Harlech Managing Director David Cattrall said: “The top levels of the catering industry are generally dominated by men even though women make most food purchasing decisions and it is great to see a woman promoted on merit to bring some balance to our previously all male leadership team.

“Josie joined us as a purchasing assistant and quickly made the climb to junior management and now to senior management level where our strategic and tactical decisions are made.

“She has a managerial background with Greene King and is there on merit because of her ability and her skills and has shown a natural aptitude for the requirements of the role.”

Josie played a major role in organising the successful annual Harlech Food Expo at Llandudno which generated a record £600,000 in orders and attracted over 2,500 trade customers.

Her new promotion means she now heads up the team responsible for buying 5,000 product lines for the Criccieth-based business which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year and is on course to double its turnover to more than £50 million after announcing a major contract with NHS Wales.

She said: “At university I studied animal behaviour and actually wrote my dissertation for my degree on the testing of fish fingers to see if they are really the type of fish they say they are.

“I worked in pubs part-time and then for Greene King, managing pubs until I had an unfortunate fall down a cellar and damaged my knee quite badly so I switched to office work and joined Harlech in Chester two years ago.

“We order directly from the suppliers and I love working with them, especially the businesses in Wales, and helping them grow and we can grow with them and I really love that.

“The Welsh Government have a big drive on to get Welsh suppliers providing Welsh products for Welsh schools and hospitals and we’re committed to that as well which us helping us win contracts.

“The fact that we also have a base in Chester means we can reach new customers in the North West of England and the Midlands and some of our suppliers from England can deliver to us more easily here than to Criccieth.

“It’s a great job, really fun. I love ice cream and one of the perks is that we get to test the new flavours the year before they come out.”

Harlech’s presence in Chester and Criccieth means that they can serve their traditional markets in the tourism and hospitality industries in North West Wales and win new business in North East Wales and in England.

In the past 12 months they have been awarded important contracts for schools in Flintshire and Wrexham – they already supply Gwynedd, Conwy and Denbighshire, as well as for Knowsley on Merseyside.

They also deliver to Keele University, in Staffordshire, where cutting food miles helped them win the contract along with their membership of TUCO – The University Caterers Organisation.

David Cattrall added: “What this appointment says about us as a company is that we are an equal opportunities employer which rewards ability and that Josie is just one of a number of women doing important jobs with us and doing them very well.”

Harlech Foodservice Ltd has bases at Criccieth, in Gwynedd, and Chester and between the two locations, the company employs around 200 staff and runs a fleet of 50 vehicles to deliver up to 5,000 product lines to cafés, restaurants, pubs and public sector customers across North and Mid-Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands and the North West.

Unbeaten Prestatyn Athletic can top the Rhyl and District Under-12 Division if they win their games in hand after a run to the semi-final of the North Wales Under-13s Cup against teams a year older.

The new kit is courtesy of a grant from leading Welsh food distribution company Harlech Foodservice who were impressed by the progress of a side which has spent the past two seasons playing in a division for boys a year older than them.

Coach Andy Parry, a former goalkeeper with Prestatyn Wanderers, has been working with the boys since they were three years old when there were just four of them – they now have a strong squad and play in the nine-a-side Rhyl and District Junior League and next month are competing in an International Tournament in Blackpool.

Andy said: “I set up the team for my young lad and we’ve grown in numbers every season and now we’re up to 14 and they’re doing really well.

“We have a good mix of lads here. It is nice to win the cups but the main reward is seeing the development of the players and the smiles on their faces.

“We spent the last two years playing against sides a year older than us and we still did well and made up for the difference in age and size with skill and teamwork.

“We like to play football. We build out from the back and through the midfield so everyone in the team is involved.”

Andy works with assistant managers Dee Hobson and Mason Parry and the squad has weekly training sessions under lights on the 3G pitches at St Asaph Sports Centre.

David Roberts, Harlech’s Key Account Manager for Education, dropped in on a training session and was impressed. He said: “They’re a very talented group of players who clearly love their football and play the game in the right spirit.

“That’s a real testament to the coaches who have worked with them for such a long time and watching them in training I can see how they’ve had such a good season and have been able to compete against older boys for the past two years.”

Harlech Managing Director David Cattrall said: “In the past 50 years we have grown from small beginnings into a major North Wales company with our base in Criccieth and we couldn’t have done that without the support of our loyal customers across the region.

“This charity fund is our way of saying thank you to the people of that community by sharing in our success and putting something back into the area which has supported us.”

Harlech Foodservices was founded by Colin and Gill Foskett above a shop in Harlech in 1972 and now delivers up to 5,000 product lines to cafés, restaurants, pubs and public sector customers across North and Mid-Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands and the North West from its modern bases in Criccieth and Chester.

Colin and Gill’s sons and daughter are still on the board and the third generation of the Foskett family are now among a workforce which has grown steadily as the business has expanded to include NHS Wales, care homes and schools, colleges and universities.

Ysgol Y Gorlan, in Tremadog, is expanding its outdoor learning area and will soon be stepping up production of flowers, fruit and vegetables with the help of a £400 grant from Harlech Foodservice, one of Wales’s biggest food distribution companies.

The cash comes from the company’s 50th Anniversary Charity Fund which offers grants totalling £10,000 to good causes, organisations, clubs and charities across Harlech Foodservice’s area of operation in Wales and the border counties.

The request for help came from Pwllheli Rotary Club who applied to the fund for help to provide a new polytunnel so the green-fingered kids at the school can make even more of their outdoor area which includes a forest school and veg patch.

Teaching support assistant Gwenno Huws said: “As a school we work closely with the community and we have built a very good relationship with the Rotary Club while our commitment to Llais y Plant/Voice of the Child gives pupils a say in what they do.

“We asked the children what they wanted and they have come back to us and we have tried to provide it, whether it’s gardening and planting trees or even yoga.

“The polytunnel is on its way and we have been planting trees and making good use of the excellent outdoor space we have here.

“We planted flowers and potatoes the children took responsibility for watering the plants which we sold and the money we raised was spent on tools and equipment so they will be able to grow even more this year.

“We want them to take responsibility for what they do. It teaches them to think for themselves and to learn from their experiences – hopefully we will produce a good crop of gardeners too.”

Even on a day of rain and wind the pupils were out with wheelbarrows, spades and forks and Siwan, from Year Four, said: “I enjoy the outdoor learning and that it teaches us how to use the tools.

“My father’s uncle is a keen gardener and I like helping him. He’s 85 and he’s still gardening.”

Ynyr, Year Six, said: “I’m from a farm so I’m used to helping out and fixing things and it’s good to be outdoors. We’re all used to the weather here.”

Alicia Baker, from Harlech Foodservice, also braved the weather and she said: “It’s great to see the children out and getting stuck in with real enthusiasm and we’re delighted at Harlech that we’re able to help them.”

David Medcalf, of Pwllheli Rotary Club, said: “We work extensively with the schools in the area and we have an excellent relationship with Ysgol Y Gorlan.

“We have planted trees here and helped clear some of the woodland for the forest school and we’re helping fund the polytunnel and we’re very grateful to Harlech for donating as well.

“It’s all helping to create an alternative curriculum that’s more hands-on and practical even if the weather and they felt that a polytunnel would mean they could be outside even if it was raining.”

Harlech Managing Director David Cattrall said: “In the past 50 years we have grown from small beginnings into a major North Wales company with our base in Criccieth and we couldn’t have done that without the support of our loyal customers across the region.

“This charity fund is our way of saying thank you to the people of that community by sharing in our success and putting something back into the area which has supported us.”

Harlech Foodservices was founded by Colin and Gill Foskett above a shop in Harlech in 1972 and now delivers up to 5,000 product lines to cafés, restaurants, pubs and public sector customers across North and Mid-Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands and the North West from its modern bases in Criccieth and Chester.

Colin and Gill’s sons and daughter are still on the board and the third generation of the Foskett family are now among a workforce which has grown steadily as the business has expanded to include NHS Wales, care homes and schools, colleges and universities.

The club’s Under-14 team have been on an impressive unbeaten run since the New Year, holding league leaders Penrhyn Bay 2-2 after going 1-0 down with Summer Jones scoring from the spot and Baileigh Aaron also netting.

The new strip is courtesy of a grant from leading Welsh food distribution company Harlech Foodservice from their 50th Anniversary Fund which has seen them distribute over £10,000 to good causes across North Wales and the border counties.

The Kinmel Bay girls have been together as a team since they were five-years-old under the watchful eye of head coach Frank Standing who said: “We certainly look the part and we’re doing OK.

“We could even push for second place in the league and we’re into the second round of the League Cup as well.

“The way the league is structured we were in the top eight of the table for the first half of the season so we go on to play the other top seven sides in the second half.

“The girls are a great bunch and they work very hard. We have brought three girls in who are new to the club this season and they’re getting better and better.”

“Most of the team have been with me from the start and they show a lot of team spirit and really enjoy their football.

“There’s a lot of commitment too because they have to travel as far as Porthmadog and Cemaes Bay for away games but girls football is on the up and up.”

The North Wales Girls League has divisions for Under-17s and Under-15s so there is a progression for the players to senior football and the Kinmel Bay junior sides, boys and girls, train and play at the community-owned Y Morfa Sports Centre.

The Centre is run by the Kinmel Bay and Towyn Sports and Recreation Association where the football club, accredited Platinum Standard by the Football Association of Wales Trust, have about 250 players taking part on a weekly basis.

The facilities include an all-weather training area which is in action almost every evening as well as at weekends with players aged from four to 60.

The Under-14 Girls are captained by left-back Scarlett Gregson who said: “It’s a lot of fun and we’ve been playing well and I really enjoy the training sessions too.”

Central midfielder Molly Williams said: “I signed for Kinmel Bay this season because I wanted to improve my game and I knew the coaching was really good and it’s worked and we’re playing well.”

Britney Loughborough, Harlech Foodservice Local Account Manager, called to see the Under-14s in action and said: “I’m very impressed. They look a good side and they are obviously enjoying their sport and are keen to do well.

“It’s great that we have been able to help them and so many other good causes through the 50thAnniversary Fund.”

Harlech Managing Director David Cattrall said: “In the past 50 years we have grown from small beginnings into a major North Wales company with bases in Criccieth and Chester and we couldn’t have done that without the support of our loyal customers across the region.

“This is our way of saying thank you to the people of these communities and putting something back into an area which has supported us and played a huge part in our success.”

Harlech Foodservices was founded by Colin and Gill Foskett above a shop in Harlech in 1972 and now delivers up to 5,000 product lines to cafés, restaurants, pubs and public sector customers across North and Mid-Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands and the North West from its modern bases in Criccieth and Chester.

Colin and Gill’s sons and daughter are still on the board and the third generation of the Foskett family are now among a workforce which has grown steadily as the business has expanded to include NHS Wales, care homes and schools, colleges and universities.

Founded in 1972 by entrepreneurs Colin and Gill Foskett, Harlech Foodservice celebrated their 50th anniversary last year. While Colin and Gill sadly passed away in 2015 and 2019 respectively, the couple’s children Jonathan, Andrew and Laura, remain passionate about the special family business and their parent’s legacy.

Based in Criccieth in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales, Harlech Foodservice has a formidable reputation as one of the leading wholesalers in Wales. With a depot in Chester to supply the North West, the company prides itself on its innovation, portfolio and first-rate customer service.

Harlech will join the Country Range Group as of Saturday 1st April and will immediately benefit from the Group’s buying power, data and insights, extensive Country Range own brand portfolio, exciting marketing campaigns and promotions, plus its industry leading trade magazine Stir it up.

Country Range Group Chief Executive Martin Ward, who is currently in Thailand embarking on a mammoth 400km bike ride challenge to raise money for the MAG charity, said:

“It’s the second highly-successful, independent, family-run foodservice wholesaler to join our Group in the last four weeks so 2023 is shaping up to be another hugely exciting and hopefully record breaking year. Just like Brook Street Foodservice, Harlech Foodservice are a great fit for our Group and share so many of our values so we’re over the moon to welcome David and his incredible team.”

David Cattrall, Managing Director of Harlech Foodservice, commented:

“Over the last few years we’ve been extremely impressed with the Country Range Group when it comes to their product portfolio, special events, marketing campaigns and their growing buying power so it’s with great pleasure that we join them in April. We look forward to working closely with Martin and his team, plus the other independent members, to help drive further growth for our business and the Country Range Group as a whole.”

About the Country Range Group
With over 30 years of heritage servicing the UK & Ireland’s innovative foodservice sector, the Country Range Group is made up of 11 independent wholesalers - Birchall Foodservice, Blakemore Foodservice, Brook Street Foodservice, Caterite Foodservice, Creed Foodservice, Dunns Food and Drinks, Harlech Foodservice, Henderson Foodservice, Savona Foodservice, Trevors Foodservice and Turner Price.

In addition to offering the leading brands from around the globe, the Group also provides over 700 products, all developed exclusively for professional caterers under the Country Range brand. Covering grocery, chilled, frozen and non-food, Country Range is widely recognised by caterers as a trusted and reliable brand delivering consistent quality and value for money without compromising on taste and flavour.

The Group also publishes its trade magazine Stir it up 10 times a year, which features the latest food, drink and industry news, Country Range brand promotions and in-depth trend reports and sector specific guides to support and inspire all foodservice caterers.

To celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2022, The Country Range Group raised £186,190 for charity with £50K being donated to Hospitality Action and the rest being split between local charities linked with its members.

Website:countryrangegroup.com

Harlech Foodservice – which has bases in Cricieth in Gwynedd and Chester- has increased the capacity of its giant freezer by 25% after reconfiguring the racking with narrower aisles and adding an extra row.

As part of the plan the company also bought “bendy” forklift trucks that can navigate the tighter spaces.

As a result, the capacity of the freezer has been increased by 270 pallets to a total of 1,100.

The package of measures includes installing a new, more environmentally friendly refrigeration system to keep the temperature in the freezer at a constant -21C.

All told the initiative will lead to an annual reduction of more than 111 tonnes in CO2 emissions as well as generating significant savings on the energy bill.

According to joint chairman Andrew Foskett, the investment is part of Harlech’s long-term growth strategy.

Turnover is set to hit an all-time high of £38 million this year, which is well above the previous, pre-pandemic record of £32 million.

Amongst other things it’s being fuelled by Harlech’s biggest ever Food Expo held recently at Venue Cymru in Llandudno where the company saw record sales of £600,000 and crowds of more than 2,500.

Mr Foskett said: “The scheme to increase the capacity of our freezer is part of our long term expansion plans and is necessary to cater for the surge in demand that we are seeing.

“Thanks to our loyal customers enjoying our competitive prices and excellent service, we are seeing double digit growth compared to the volumes we were seeing before the pandemic.

“Our customers in Wales and in the North West of England are showing great resilience in the face of a challenging environment in hospitality and and we are on track for a record year in 2023.”

Operations manager Ian Evans said that increasing the storage space in the freezer had worked on a number of levels.

He said: “It became clear that we needed more freezer capacity but we dismissed the idea of building an extension, not only because of the cost involved but also because it would have increased our carbon footprint at a time when the price of energy is spiralling.

“Instead, we’ve reduced the width of the aisles from 3.2 metres to 1.8 metres, put in an extra row and trained the staff to use the new bendy forklift trucks to enable them to work in a narrower environment.

“In addition, we’ve installed LED lighting and updated half of our refrigeration plants which will save us up to 40% on our energy costs.

“The work that we’ve done already is going to save the equivalent of 60 CO2 equivalent tonnes a year with plans to do a further 50 tonnes.”

The expansion plans are being driven by managing director David Cattrall.

He said: “Sales have been growing really well in the last 12 months or so which is down to the support of our customers as well as, growth in the education and health sectors which has been a new focus for us and quite honestly, we were running out of space.

“We have been using third party storage to help ourselves work through the year which obviously adds costs and complexity.

“The beauty about moving to these narrow aisles is that you’re freezing less air and your energy is going into stock which holds the temperature better. It’s actually cheaper to run a fuller freezer than an empty freezer.

“The upshot is that we’ve gained in the region of 25% more stock in that same space for less cost, so thinking outside the box in this way made a lot of financial sense.

“By increasing capacity by 25% and reducing energy costs we can continue investing in competitive prices for our customers.

“It’s involved a significant investment, particularly when we’ve come out of a pandemic, but we’ve been able to do it because of the support we’ve seen from the customers that has given us the growth that’s created the need and allowed us to invest and lay the foundation for long term future growth over the next 10 years or so.”

Harlech Foodservice’s annual two-day trade expo smashed last year’s figures – the first since 2019 because of the pandemic – with the 120 exhibitor stands at the high profile event at Llandudno’s Venue Cymru another record.

They came to see – and taste - over 1,000 products being showcased by Harlech which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year and to enjoy cookery demonstrations including by Wales’s own BBQ expert, Caernarfon’s S4C star, Flamebaster Chris Roberts.

Exhibitors included internationally known names like Kellogg’s, Young’s Seafood, Doritos, Hellman’s and McCains as well as top North Wales’s producers such as Jones Village Bakery, Edwards the Welsh Butcher, Llaeth y Llan Village Dairy and South Caernarfon Creameries.

Harlech Head of Purchasing Matt Flynn said: “Everyone is saying it’s probably the best show we’ve ever done and the numbers certainly bear that out.

“In the first hour alone we had over 130 people through and they’ve been busy with their order books which have offered them some fantastic offers to book deliveries ahead.

“We’ve gone back to basics this year and provided them with attractive order books with an A to Z list of the products from our suppliers, from Aber Falls Distillery Gin to Zafron Chilled Sandwiches so that they can fill in their orders and leave the delivery to us.

“We’ve also got some real theatre with fantastic exhibitions of cookery from Chris Roberts and our own Steve Griffiths.

“We’ve seen fantastic growth in the education and health sectors and we’re building on that and encouraging customers to increase their spend with us as well as winning new customers.”

Chris Roberts took a break from giving a succulent lamb shoulder the ‘Flamebaster’ treatment to say: “This is my first time here and I’m impressed. It’s very good and very busy.

“I’ve been cooking up some nice rib-eyes from a farm in Meifod in Mid Wales where the cattle are 100 per cent grass fed, all reared on Welsh grass and breathing Welsh air.

“That’s really important to me and it’s what I celebrate – the farmers, butchers and fishmongers of Wales are my rock stars and it’s amazing the way Harlech are promoting them.”

The Expo had a big thumb’s up from customers Dean Bartle, of St Tudwal’s Pub in Abersoch and his head chef, Ben Cunliffe, who said: “It feels very busy with a lot more stalls than last year and plenty of information.

“We get a lot of our produce from Harlech and we know them and have a really good relationship with them.

“Their meat and produce is very good but also their cut-off times for orders are excellent which is really important for us and in high season they deliver seven days a week.”

Baker Glen Simpson, of Jones Village Bakery, said: “Our products go into lots of pub chains, cafes and bed and breakfasts through Harlech so it’s an important market for us.”

Tracie Edwards, Brand Manager for Village Bakery, added: “We know that a big per centage of people in Wales like to buy Welsh produce so we know we need to look after them.”

Edwards the Welsh Butcher Product Development Manager Natalie Bestwick said: “This event is really important to us because it gives us a chance to talk to our customers face to face and it’s great to be able to showcase our products.

“We also supply schools through Harlech and have developed school-friendly recipes because it’s really important that Welsh produce should be going into Welsh schools.”

Michael Burrows, Factory Manager at Llaeth y Llan Village Dairy, said: “It’s always important for us to be here because we’re supporting our brand and Harlech who are a valuable partner for us.

“Our sales have increased over the last two years through that partnership, especially in the schools and it’s important to reach young people because we need to have Welsh products in our schools and all our milk comes from within a dozen miles of our dairy.”

Peter Bayliss, account manager for Doritos, said: “We like to support events like this because it gets us in front of our customers and because our partnership with Harlech is important to us.

“We are working closely with them and with Steve Griffiths, their development chef, on products and recipes for the education sector.”

Radnor Springs, based near Knighton in Powys, have seen their sales rocket through their partnership with Harlech Foodservice and Business Development Manager Molly Breakwell said: “They’re a really good company for us to work with.

“Because we have such a healthy product with a high fruit content and no added sugar we are ideal for schools and Harlech have helped us grow phenomenally, 200 per cent up in the last six months and we’re now in schools all over Wales.

“Harlech have won a lot of schools business and that has really grown our business.”

Harlech Foodservice Ltd employs 200 staff at its bases at Criccieth and Chester and between the two locations, the company runs a fleet of vehicles to deliver 5,000 product lines to cafés, restaurants, pubs and public sector customers across North and Mid-Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands and the North West.

It’s a highlight in the calendar for the high profile food wholesaler which celebrated its 50th birthday last year and which supplies everything from restaurants and cafes to Premiership giants.

Many of the exhibitors will be doing their own live cookery demonstrations and there will be opportunities to taste the products on offer.

The event is free to people in the trade but isn’t open to the public.

The aim is to enable suppliers to talk directly to the customer, giving them a chance to tell the story behind their product to representatives from the tourism, leisure, education and health sectors across North Wales, the North West and the Midlands.

Harlech Foodservice, which has bases in Criccieth in Gwynedd and Chester, is hoping to break last year’s record-breaking total of more than £500,000 of deals being secured.

There will also be plenty of tasting opportunities for customers especially at Harlech’s own stand Caernarfon’s BBQ maestro Chris ‘Flamebaster’ Roberts will be the special guest.

The star of S4C’s Bwyd Epic Chris will join Harlech’s Executive Chef Steve Griffiths, from Welshpool, at the 44th Expo and bring his own unique style to the event.

Chris said: “It’s my first time at the Expo and I’m really looking forward to it and to championing the fantastic Welsh produce that will be on show there which is something I’m really passionate about.

“The farmers, producers and butchers of Wales and all the other people who make our produce so amazing are my superheroes and I want us to celebrate them and their epic food.”

Matt Flynn, Harlech’s Head of Purchasing, said: “We are expecting over 2,500 to attend and there will be over 1,000 products on show.

“Last year was fantastic but I am expecting us to smash it this year.

“Most of the suppliers I’ve spoken to said it was the best show they attended and this year’s is going to be even bigger and better and as soon as you walk in it will be busy and there will be a great atmosphere.”

Many of the biggest names in the food and catering industry will be at the Expo, including international giants like Unilever, Wall’s, McCain, Young’s Seafood, Birds Eye, Chicago Town, Tropicana and PepsiCo.

But Wales will be well represented too with major North Wales brands like Jones Village Bakery, Snowdonia Cheese, Edwards the Welsh Butcher, Radnor Hills and Tŷ Nant mineral water, Aber Falls, Snowdon Lager and Llaeth y Llan Village Dairy.

Once again there is interest from across the border as the company, extend its reach into the North West and the Midlands after winning important new contracts with public and private sector customers.

Food and drink are the major components of the event but there will also be an increased presence for suppliers of cleaning, accountancy and other ancillary services.

Matt added: “Each stand will be manned by experts and customers can talk to them about their products and there will be plenty of big offers available so it’s a great opportunity for people to come along and stock up at a big discount ready for the new season.

“There will also be a big emphasis on Welsh produce and products and we will have Hybu Cig Cymru - Meat Promotion Wales there and our own big butchery stand which was our most successful revenue generator last year.

“Customers attending this year will be given order books with details of the offers and I’m looking forward to that making things easier for them and increasing orders and sales.

“We are also launching a website in mid-February which will enable businesses to see every supplier and what their products and offers are so they can check them out ahead of the Expo and see what they want to taste, sample and talk about.

“Anyone who can’t attend or simply don’t have time will be able to place their orders by calling our dedicated sales team.

“It’s a really important event for all concerned and we are proud to be at the fore of driving it forward.”

Harlech also offer increased flexibility for customers who can order up to 10pm every night for next day delivery, up to seven days a week.

The two-day event is aimed at trade customers and is not open to the general public. To register for the Expo, traders and businesses should head to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/harlech-foodservice-expo-2023-tickets-438896199347

Harlech Foodservice Ltd employs 200 staff at its bases at Criccieth and Chester and between the two locations, the company runs a fleet of vehicles to deliver 5,000 product lines to cafés, restaurants, pubs and public sector customers across North and Mid-Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands and the North West.

That’s a remarkable record for a side made up of 15 and 16-year-olds who are unbeaten in their opening nine games and have scored a hatful of goals.

They are part of a Blues football renaissance with the former Football League stalwarts mounting a comeback with Chester FC in the mix at the top of the National League North and the women’s teams flying in their leagues.

That includes the Under-18s who have just been boosted by a donation of £350 from major food wholesaler Harlech Foodservice who have established a regional office and distribution hub in Chester as they expand across Cheshire and North East Wales.

The Under-18s are top of the Cheshire Women’s Youth League in their first season and draw players from around Chester and into North Wales and although they’re younger than most of their opponents they’re giving nothing away in skills and spirit, according to joint coach Rob Lawton who runs the team with Bryson Kelso.

He said: “We needed to bridge the gap between the junior football the girls were playing before and the senior league where they could be coming up against women twice their age.

“If you’re only 16 and you’re coming up against women who are aged 35 to 40 then it can be detrimental to your development so we started the Under-18s this season and many of them are also getting experience with the Development side which feeds into the Chester Women side in Division One South of the North West Women's League.

“Because of the numbers of girls we had coming through we needed a pathway for them to develop but already a number of them are training with the Development team who were promoted last year.”

Bryson added: “The women’s game is developing so quickly now and the Under-18s train in Helsby on a high quality all-weather 3G pitch while we play our matches at the King George V Sports Hub in Chester so the facilities are top class.

“Girls are starting to play at four or five years old and when they come through they’re going to be at another level but the squad we have here in the Under-18s is a really talented group.

“They play a four-three-three and they’re scoring lots of goals and playing really good football – about four or five of them are in double figures for goals already.”

One of those is left-sided striker Erin Parr, 15, from Tarvin, who said: “I played for boys teams for a while but it didn’t work out and I wanted a better standard so I tried it here four years ago and it’s been great.

“The coaching is really good and the set-up is great. I’m really happy and want to progress through to the Development squad.”

Erin’s mum, Kerry, has also been doing her bit with regular supplies of iced fingers and Bakewell tarts with mince pies at Christmas but on the pitch the training is intense.

Helping pull the strings in midfield is another 15-year-old, Kelsey Blackwell, from Flint, who joined the club at the start of the season from Wrexham.

She said: “I had heard that Chester were doing well with a good side and I’ve really enjoyed it. We’ve made a good start and we’re playing good football - we’ve just got to keep it going now.”

Fast-growing Harlech have established a regional office and distribution hub in the city as they expand into the North West and West Midlands and David Roberts, Harlech’s Key Account Manager for Education, who lives near Chester, has been impressed with the Under-18s side.

He said: “It’s brilliant that we’re able to support grass roots sport like this but there’s nothing amateur about the approach here.

“The girls are all very focused and you can see that in the way they apply themselves on the training field.

“They’re a very talented group and I’m sure we will be hearing more of some of them in the future as the women’s game continues to grow and we’re just glad to be able to help them along the way.”

Harlech Managing Director David Cattrall said: “In the past 50 years we have grown from small beginnings into a major North Wales company with bases in Criccieth and Chester and we couldn’t have done that without the support of our loyal customers across the region.

“Chester FC Women are clearly a well-established and deserving sports club and this is our way of saying thank you to the people of that community by sharing in our success and putting something back into an area which has supported us and where we have an important base.

“We have had a fantastic response to our setting up of the charity fund and over the coming months we will be looking at the applications we have had and deciding how we can best share out the £10,000.”

Harlech Foodservices was founded by Colin and Gill Foskett above a shop in Harlech in 1972 and now delivers up to 5,000 product lines to cafés, restaurants, pubs and public sector customers across North and Mid-Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands and the North West from its modern bases in Criccieth and Chester.

Colin and Gill’s sons and daughter are still on the board and the third generation of the Foskett family are now among a workforce which has grown steadily as the business has expanded to include NHS Wales, care homes and schools, colleges and universities.

Bags of Love/Bagiau Cariad was set up by parishioners at St Mary’s Church in the town three years ago at the height of the pandemic lockdown and today is stepping up its efforts as rocketing fuel and food bills put more and more families into difficulty.

They have just received a helping hand from Harlech Foodservices, based in Criccieth and Chester and one of Wales’s biggest food distribution companies, who have donated £500 from their 50thAnniversary Charity Fund.

The fund offers grants totalling £10,000 to good causes, organisations, clubs and charities across Harlech Foodservice’s area of operation in Wales and the border counties.

Bags of Love Co-founder Lynn Jones said: “I was isolating myself at the time and couldn’t go out and we heard that there were lots of people really struggling financially and so a group of us got together and decided to try and do something to help.”

Lynn, her husband, Trevor, St David’s vicar the Rev David Parry and another parishioner, Sylvia Parker, contacted the local primary school, Ysgol Porth y Felin, to see if there were families that needed help.

She added: “We contacted families having free school meals and that first Christmas we provided about 30 Bags of Love and since then we have just grown and grown and now we are doing about 75 hampers a month.

“We began in St Mary’s but we very soon had lots of help from our other churches in the Bro Celynnin ministry area.

“We have built good relationships with other local schools including the secondary school, Ysgol Aberconwy, Ysgol Capelulo and Ysgol Llangelynnin – it’s a very good way to find out where the need is.

“Now we have collection points from Llandudno to Llanfairfechan in all our local churches and we’ve had great support from local supermarkets but donations like this from Harlech Foodservice are so vital for us.”

Harlech Accounts Manager Penny Jones called in to see the charity in action at its Rose Hill Street headquarters in Conwy where the team of 40 volunteers make up the hampers worth up to £40 each every month.

She said: “The team here at Bags of Love are doing a fantastic job and providing a vital service for so many people who are really struggling at the moment.

“They have developed excellent partnerships with the local schools to identify where the need is and they work really hard to help so many families who are facing a difficult winter.”

As well as foods, especially non-perishables and easy to heat up ready meals liked tinned soup, mince and curries, Bags of Love also provide household goods and toiletries.

Lynn said: “We’ve just opened a new collection point at Conwy Culture Centre in Town Ditch Road and the bags sent out in December also had Christmas cards made by children from Ysgol Porth y Felin.”

Harlech Managing Director David Cattrall said: “In the past 50 years we have grown from small beginnings into a major North Wales company with bases in Criccieth and Chester and we couldn’t have done that without the support of our loyal customers across the region.

“Bags if Love are a well-established and deserving local charity working in and around Conwy and this is our way of saying thank you to the people of that community by sharing in our success and putting something back into the area which has supported us.

“We have had a fantastic response to our setting up of the charity fund and over the coming months we will be looking at the applications we have had and deciding how we can best share out the £10,000.”

Harlech Foodservices was founded by Colin and Gill Foskett above a shop in Harlech in 1972 and now delivers up to 5,000 product lines to cafés, restaurants, pubs and public sector customers across North and Mid-Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands and the North West from its modern bases in Criccieth and Chester.

Colin and Gill’s sons and daughter are still on the board and the third generation of the Foskett family are now among a workforce which has grown steadily as the business has expanded to include NHS Wales, care homes and schools, colleges and universities.