Edwards, The Welsh Butcher is a renowned artisanal butcher and delicatessen located in Conwy, North Wales. Celebrating over 40 years of butchery, the business was established with a commitment to quality and tradition, and Edwards, The Welsh Butcher has earned a reputation for its exceptional range of products, including award-winning sausages, pies, and a variety of meats sourced from local farms.
The shop prides itself on its dedication to craftsmanship, ensuring that every product is prepared with the utmost care and attention to detail. This dedication has led to numerous accolades, making Edwards, The Welsh Butcher a beloved destination for both locals and visitors seeking high-quality, traditional Welsh fare.
In addition to its physical store, Edwards, The Welsh Butcher offers an online shop, allowing customers to enjoy their premium products from the comfort of their homes.
A son of a farmer, Ieuan Edwards from Llanrwst opened his first butcher’s shop and delicatessen at the young age of 20. Ieuan talking about his business said, “I started the company over 40 years ago and we have expanded the business in Conwy to around 85 - 90 people.
“We’re a growing business and sell our products to about 800 supermarkets as well as export around the world.”
Laura Jones, Brand Manager added, “During my time with the company, we’ve gone from quite a small business to a decent sized medium sized business.
“What’s best is that every day is different, some days I’m involved more with technical and product development and other days we’re looking at category data and presenting to big retailers. So it’s really varied.”
Commercial Manager Luned Evans added, “I think the appeal for the food industry came from my agricultural background. I didn’t want to farm every day but I wanted to do something related to the industry. I think in the food industry there are so many opportunities, whatever your interests and your skills are, there are a lot of openings, so I would recommend it to anyone.”
Jane Ridge, Financial Controller added, “Within the factory there are many different roles, you can be on the production line packing sausages, but we can offer you training and you can become a line leader or a shift production manager, depending on what you want to do.
“Equally, you can transfer into other departments. On the commercial side, we have a marketing, finance and business administration departments, the list is endless and you can morph into other directions within the company and we’ll train you to do it.”
Natalie Bestwick, NPD Manager added
“My job is really varied, it can be different from one day to the next. I’ll be creating recipes some days and then I’ll be cooking up products the next day. I’ll be contacting suppliers and taking on new briefs.”
Laura Jones, Brand Manager further added,
“There’s lots of opportunities for people starting off in the food and drink industry in Wales, and in north Wales in particular. But there’s also lots of opportunities to learn on the job as well.
“You don’t necessarily have to have formal qualifications, you can learn as you go. They want you to grow with the business, which is very much what I’ve done here at Edwards.”
Owain ap Gruffydd, Technical and Health & Safety Coordinator said, “Don’t worry if you don’t have a background in food, we will teach you what’s needed from the start. You don’t have to go to college, you can just walk in and learn from the bottom up.
“I would encourage anyone to think about the food industry because everyone needs food and that’s why the food industry is a very safe industry to be in.”
Whether you’re starting out in your career or looking for a change, the food and drink industry is full of rewarding opportunities. Visit our jobs notice board to start your journey today…