A SURREY-BASED dairy supplier, Freshways Group, has completed the acquisition of Haverfordwest’s Totally Welsh Dairy. This development, which was finalized on September 11, represents a significant expansion for Freshways.

Established in 1990, Totally Welsh Dairy is renowned for its commitment to quality, sourcing its milk exclusively from Welsh farmers within a 40-mile radius of its bottling plant. The company prides itself on sustainable practices, notably its use of reusable glass bottles and its dedication to local packaging solutions.

This acquisition is part of a broader strategy by Freshways, following its earlier purchase of Milk & More from Müller in January 2024. The integration of Milk & More has already enhanced Freshways’ home delivery service and its overall sustainability initiatives.

Bali Nijjar, Managing Director of Freshways, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition: “We are delighted to incorporate Totally Welsh Dairy into the Freshways family. Their dedication to quality and sustainable practices complements our values perfectly. This acquisition not only broadens our product range but also supports local Welsh agriculture and enhances our delivery capabilities, catering to the increasing consumer demand for convenient, eco-friendly dairy products.”

Mark Hunter, Managing Director and owner of Totally Welsh, commented on the sale: “Joining forces with Freshways ensures a promising future for Totally Welsh. It opens new avenues for growth and opportunities for our committed team.”

In response to the rising demand for eco-friendly packaging, Totally Welsh Dairy has recently upgraded its facilities with a new glass bottling line. This enhancement will benefit the doorstep delivery customers of Milk & More.

MENTRUS DEVELOPMENTS has started work on phase two of ‘Maes y Teirw’, a residential development of 21 eco-friendly homes on the site of a former cattle breeding centre near Carmarthen that has been part-funded by a seven-figure loan from the Development Bank of Wales.

The 2.2-acre brownfield site includes a mix of 17 five- and four-bedroom homes along with 4 three-bedroom affordable properties. All have solar panels and air source heat pumps to ensure maximum energy efficiency.

With good transport links and a range of local amenities, Maes y Teirw is proving popular with families and commuters alike. The first phase of properties is now almost complete with two having sold subject to contract. Work on phase two of the development is underway and internal fixings are expected to be completed during the winter of 2024/25.

Maes y Teirw is the first residential development for Mentrus Developments, a company set-up by Directors Matthew Watkins, Philip Mann and Richard Phillips. Matthew Watkins said: “The literal translation of Maes y Teirw is ‘The Bulls Field’ and our choice of name is important as it reflects the legacy and history of the land.

“As our first residential development, we were looking for a funding partner who knew the local area, took the time to understand our business model and could meet our timescales for development to maximise build time during the summer months. The Development Bank pulled out all the stops to ensure a quick and smooth completion. We’re very grateful for their support.”

Rob Good is a Property Development Executive with the Development Bank. He said: “We work with developers in Wales to provide the funding that they need to progress the development of good quality, sustainable and energy-efficient homes where they are most needed. With high specifications and an excellent finish, Maes y Teirw will offer buyers the opportunity to benefit from modern living surrounded by countryside close to Carmarthen town centre.”

The loan for Mentrus Developments came from the £54.5 million Wales Property Fund II. Financed entirely by Welsh Government, loans from £150,000 to £6 million are available for small and medium-sized developers based in Wales, working on residential, mixed-use and commercial development projects in Wales.

Pictured above: Matthew Watkins, Mentrus; Philip Mann, Mentrus; Rob Good, Development Bank of Wales; Richard Phillips, Mentrus.

WELSH tourism leaders have once again found themselves in the position where they have to ask a new First Minister to appoint a Minister with explicit responsibility for Tourism, following the recent Cabinet reshuffle.

The Wales Tourism Alliance, together with the Chairs of Welsh Government’s own Regional Tourism Fora wrote to Eluned Morgan when it was unclear what had happened to the express reference to a tourism Minister or Deputy Minister as in the past. The letter was also signed by Wales’s main independent destination management and marketing organisations; Visit Mid Wales, Visit North Wales and Visit Pembrokeshire. Representatives of the primary sectors within the industry, notably accommodation, added their signatures, as did representatives of the rural and retail economies of Wales.

Suzy Davies, Chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance said: “It’s a shame we have to make this case yet again. Unlike other nations of the UK, responsibility for tourism as an industry – it’s not just promotion – is retained within Welsh Government. It’s not an arms length body with the ability to make its own partnerships to raise money, or with a route to change leadership without a Senedd election.

“As a result it needs a Minister who has the time and focus to lead, find resources, accept accountability and champion the industry at Cabinet level.

“In the meantime, we welcome Rebecca Evans to her role as Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and look forward to meeting her soon. Tourism has faced yet another difficult year, with the poor weather really not helping to extend the season on top of well-rehearsed challenges around the cost of doing business, the pressure in holidaymakers’ own purses, and a slew of government policies, so we need that champion within Welsh Government.

‘’It will also be a chance for us to reinforce our position that the relationship between governments and the tourism industry should not be about setting fires and putting them out. It’s less exhausting and more productive to give weight to industry voices as we saw during lockdown. We all want our industry to prosper safely, sustainably and responsibly.

“We also hope that looking at policy through the lens of the economy rather than the finance brief will be a help in understanding the value of the tourism ecosystem; its role in a number of areas of government policy, and why it’s so important to protect it from collateral damage as well focusing on Visit Wales’s much-appreciated promotion work.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We recognise the significance of tourism and the visitor economy as a vital industry for Wales. That’s why it has been included in the Economy portfolio. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning will represent the interests of the tourism sector at Cabinet meetings.”