A food wholesaler in North Wales has won a contract to supply one of the UK's top university after opening a second major distribution hub in Chester.
Harlech Foodservice will supply Keele University in Staffordshire with its products in a deal which helps the university to reduce its carbon footprint.
The contract is one of two major higher education deals worth more than £1m secured by the wholesaler this year.
The second deal has not yet been confirmed.
Last month, the wholesaler celebrated its 50th anniversary as it announced its goal of reaching a turnover of more than £50m in the next three years.
The wholesaler currently has a turnover of over £30m and employs over 200 staff at its sites in Criccieth 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.
Harlech also supplies Salford Catering College and has major schools’ contracts with Merseyside’s Knowsley Council and Conwy, Denbighshire and Gwynedd Councils in North Wales.
Commercial director Mark Lawton said: “The opening of our depot and sales office in Chester means that we’re right on the doorstep for a prestigious university like Keele, where we are supplying general food and meat products.
“What helped us clinch the deal was that we can help them reduce their carbon footprint by supplying them with more sustainably-sourced products and by our own efforts to be greener.”
Mr Lawton added: “It’s a contract we have been able to compete for because we are now within range and able to provide prompt deliveries which also helps them reduce their carbon footprint.
“The work we are doing to cut our own carbon use impressed them and convinced them we were a company they could work with and do some work on joint initiatives including carbon offsetting.
“What definitely helps is that we source so much of our product range from North Wales, Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire which reduces their food miles.”
The wholesaler bid for the contract through its membership with The University Caterers Organisation, a framework which qualifies businesses to provide catering services for the public sector.
Mr Lawton said: “We see this as a very prestigious contract and a real statement of our intent to make a mark not just in Wales but over the border as well.
“It’s all about reliability and service because the catering industry is really suffering from problems of food supplies, shortages of HGV drivers and other supply issues but we are continuing to cope and to provide a great service for our customers.”
