Castell Howell Foods, one of the UK’s leading family-run foodservice wholesalers, is celebrating as it reaches the milestone of 1,000 employees.
Founded on a Carmarthenshire farm, Castell Howell began as a diversification of the family farm following the introduction of milk quotas. Since then, it has grown into a business with an annual turnover of £252 million, a fleet of more than 200 temperature-controlled vehicles, over 12,000 product lines and a workforce of 1,000 employees.
Reflecting on the milestone, Founder and Chairman Brian Jones MBE said: “I’m always overwhelmed when I think of the struggles we faced in those early days and humbled to see how we’ve grown. I can’t take the credit for the success. I may have a bit of common sense, but it’s been largely down to having good people.”
This belief in people has been at the heart of Castell Howell’s success since day one. One person who remembers those early days better than most is Neil Allinson, Castell Howell’s longest serving employee, who recently celebrated 42 years with the business.
Neil said: “I remember my first day like it was yesterday. The warmth in Brian’s welcome instantly put my first day nerves at ease. I believed in what he was trying to build and I wanted to do all I could to help him achieve it. To see where the business is today is incredibly special.”
The company’s growth has been marked by continuous investment and expansion. During the early 1990s, Castell Howell moved from the family farm to a purpose-built warehouse facility, which was subsequently extended as demand increased. The business went on to establish a Cash & Carry operation and satellite depots in Merthyr Tydfil, Avonmouth, Porthmadog and St Martins. In 2007, the company’s headquarters relocated to Cross Hands before undergoing a major extension in 2016 to accommodate further growth.
Today, Castell Howell continues to invest confidently in its future. Earlier this year, the company broke ground on a new 103,000 sq ft warehouse expansion at its Cross Hands headquarters, providing additional capacity to support future growth.
Speaking about the latest development, Martin Jones Director of Transport Operations said: “Growing up and watching my parents build Castell Howell from such humble beginnings has been inspiring. To now be leading the business expansion on this scale, right here in our home county, is something that means a great deal to our whole family. Reaching 1,000 employees is another landmark moment in our journey and a reflection of the extraordinary people who have helped shape the business over the years.”
Lili Pugh, the company’s 1,000th employee, recently joined the business and is looking forward to developing her career with Castell Howell.
Lili said: “Castell Howell’s scale, values and vision are something I admire and being able to start my career journey here is something to savour. It really is one big family – everyone is welcoming and supportive, and I’m already learning skills that will support me for life.”
Reaching 1,000 employees marks another milestone for Castell Howell as it continues to grow. While the business has expanded significantly since its beginnings as a small family diversification project, its focus remains on investing in people, supporting customers and championing the supply chain.
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