The Country Range Group has announced that family-owned foodservice wholesaler Harlech, which has depots in Wales and Cheshire, has joined the buying group as its latest member.
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.
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.”
Earlier this month, Harlech has reported record sales of £600,000 and crowds of over 2,500 at its biggest ever food expo event.
The wholesaler’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.
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.
Simon Hannah
