CELTIC Food Products is looking for continued growth after building a portfolio of customers across South Wales.

The company, one of three winners in the Western Mail’s Local Business Accelerators competition, was set up two years ago by Brian North and Nick Kinsey.

It has already established itself in its market sector and last year turned over £500,000.

Sales director Mr Kinsey said the pair’s past experience had stood them in good stead.

“Both Brian and myself came from a sales background,” he said.

“Brian’s experience was in food manufacturing and my background was in supplying food products to the catering and butchery trades, which provided an excellent understanding of the varied needs of our potential customers.

“Both of us wanted to change tack so we decided to set up Celtic Food Products. We launched in 2009 at a unit on Pen-y-Fan Industrial Estate with just a walk-in freezer, a chiller and one refrigerated sprinter van for our deliveries.”

Since then the company has grown and won contracts with such diverse customers as Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and numerous canteens and fast food establishments.

To these retail outlets Celtic Food Products supply cooked meats, Welsh cheeses, burgers, sausages, bacon, beef , pork and award winning hams.

With this goes the company’s offering of high quality food products at trade prices, efficient order processing, regular free deliveries within 30 miles of its base, fully priced invoices and regular contact from its representatives.

Mr Kinsey said: “We stock products from some of the best-known suppliers and brands in the UK, as well as local specialities.

“Recently we have been shortlisted for a local council contract which will underpin the presence we already have in the marketplace. If successful this will see us supplying some 400 local schools, boost our turnover to £600,000 and put us on course for £1m target.”

Like many SMEs in Wales Celtic Food Products has had difficulties when it come to funding.

In the current economic climate, Mr Kinsey said, banks are unwilling to lend and help the company’s expansion plans.

He said: “Our future strategy is to increase our customer base to areas outside Wales along with our transport provision. The council is impressed with what we do here and winning the contract would mean we could begin to employ a small number in full-time jobs.”

Despite the lack of interest shown by its bank and the reluctance of the Welsh Government to help other than in IT related matters Celtic Food Products has successfully established itself as a reliable supplier of quality chilled and frozen products in a very busy food market.

Mr Kinsey said: “We have consistently grown our customer base by providing quality foods and personal service at competitive prices. We are looking forward to inquiries from both existing and new customers and to fulfilling their requirements for first class food products.”

The other winners of the Western Mail’s Local Business Accelerators competition, run as part of a UK-wide newspaper industry initiative organised by the Newspaper Society, are Newport-based electrical recycling and hazardous waste specialist Footprintmatters2u and Pembroke Dock-based technology group Torquing