Business Person of the Year
South Caernarfon Creameries’ managing director Alan Wyn Jones has been named business person of the year in one Wales’s top business awards.
Alan was awarded the accolade for a decade of achievement in the role, at the 2018 Daily Post Business Awards. Alan has been with SCC for over 20 years and MD for the last ten. He was praised for his transformational leadership at the helm. It comes during SCC’s 80th year and under Alan’s leadership our turnover has doubled, to reach the current record of £50m. The current value of milk purchased for its North and mid-Wales farmer members is in excess of £30 million per annum.
Over the last four years SCC has invested £13.5m in a new state-of-the-art cheese production and packing plant at Chwilog. This has resulted in a 25% increase in production, and the winning of several major new contracts.
The Daily Post Business Awards recognises high-flying firms and talented entrepreneurs. The ceremony was held this evening at Bangor University, joint headline sponsors of the awards with the Welsh Government. The Business Person of the Year Award was sponsored by Bangor University and was among ten awards handed out on the evening, hosted by BBC presenter Nicholas Owen.
Talking about the winner of Business Person of the Year, Professor John G Hughes, Vice Chancellor of Bangor University, said: “Over the last 10 years our winner has helped transform the business from a dairy commodity trading business to a added value dairy one which supplies a host of notable customers including UK supermarket giants Sainsburys, Tesco, Lidl, Asda and Morrisons. Thanks to our winner’s vision and leadership, the recently re branded Dragon range is now recognised as the number one Welsh cheese brand.”
Alan Wyn Jones said: “I’m delighted for the company, this is a testament to the hard work of the whole South Caernarfon Creameries team, including our staff and farming members. We are excited for the future as we continue to grow and expand our customer base in the UK and abroad, and continue to develop and produce new products using the finest quality Welsh milk.”
Daily Post editor Andrew Campbell welcomed business leaders from across North Wales to the event in the Prichard Jones Hall. He said: “These awards have been celebrating the best of North Wales business for 24 years and once again it’s a genuine privilege to be stood here. The quality of entries has remained unflinchingly high over the years – and this year we saw a record number which is a clear sign that drive, determination and entrepreneurship are alive and kicking in this remarkable region. The judging panel was once again impressed by the superb quality of submissions. Whatever the economy and looming Brexit may throw at you, you are refusing to take a backward step.”
Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport Ken Skates said: “Huge congratulations to all the businesses, and the many hard working and hugely talented individuals behind them, who have had their success recognised at this year’s Daily Post Business Awards. ”Collectively these businesses make a hugely important contribution to our local economy and also to our communities by providing good quality jobs close to home. “The Daily Post Business Awards only serve to reinforce that North Wales is home to some of our very best and most exciting businesses. ”As a Welsh Government we are working hard to support businesses of all shapes and sizes to prosper and grow.”