Harlech Foodservice acquires Gwynedd company Oren Foods

North Wales Chronicle

2 days ago

Harlech Foodservice has taken over Penrhyndeudraeth-based fruit and vegetable wholesaler Oren Foods.
The company, which was named Food Wholesaler of the Year by The Caterer magazine, has guaranteed the jobs of all 25 Oren Foods employees.
David Cattrall, managing director of Harlech Foodservice, said: "Adding fresh fruit and vegetables to our offer fills a gap for our customers.
"It's always been our ambition to be a total range supplier and buying up a well-established and respected local business fills a gap in our range of products.
"All the staff at Oren has been offered their job on the same terms and that's something we were committed to from the start of our discussions."
By September, the company plans to fully integrate Oren into Harlech's main site.
Oren Foods, originally launched 45 years ago as Ffrwythau DJ Fruit by Dei and Cheryl Jones, was rebranded in 2021 and has been run for the past 12 years by their son, Gethin Dwyfor.
The business supplies fruit and vegetables to schools, care homes, restaurants, hotels, cafes, and nursing homes across North Wales.
Mr Dwyfor said: "The company was originally called DJ Fruits but we changed it to Oren and it's always been my plan to build the business and to have a clear succession plan.
"My dream was for a partnership with a locally based company and that has happened and it was always going to be a condition that our staff could keep their jobs and Harlech have always given that assurance.
"I will stay on and continue to be involved and that's very exciting for me as well.
"I've run the business for 12 years and this will now be a new challenge for me with a bigger business."
Mr Cattrall praised Mr Dwyfor and the Oren team.
READ MORE: Bangor day therapy base safe as hospice cuts costs by closing Holyhead unit
He said: "Gethin and his team will bring the valuable knowledge and experience of their products and their customers they have gained over the years.
"We don't have a fresh fruit and vegetable offer and this now gives us a total food service solution for our customers.
"It's a great fit because the Oren operation dovetails neatly with what we do and their ethos as a family-run business chimes perfectly with our approach
"Gethin's role will be help us settle in and to make sure we have a smooth transfer of the business and provide our customers with the right range of stock and the right produce.
"And that will be Welsh whenever possible."