A family food business in Gwynedd is creating new jobs after winning a major contract to help supply food to the NHS in Wales. Harlech Foodservice has agreed a three-year deal with NHS Wales to supply hospitals creating nine jobs.
The Criccieth-headquartered company, which has supplied restaurants, pubs, schools, care homes and hospitals in Wales and into England since 1972, will be delivering 450 lines of dry store products to 120 locations across Wales including general hospitals and community hospitals.
The wholesaler currently has a turnover of over £30m and employs over 200 staff at its sites in Criccieth, Merthyr Tydfil and Chester. Its fleet of lorries and vans deliver over 5,000 product lines across North and Mid-Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands and the North West of England.
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The firm is now on track to achieve record sales this year and said it is investing £500,000 to increase storage capacity. Last year, Harlech announced that it was targeting a turnover of over £50m in the next three years as it celebrated its 50th anniversary.
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 it's an important part of our expansion and strengthens our presence throughout Wales.”
Commercial director Mark Lawton said winning the new business with NHS Wales was a “major vote on confidence” in the wholesaler.
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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.”
He added: “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.
“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.
“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.”
Managing director David Cattrall 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.”
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