A NARBERTH based business has thanked its customers for helping make their business the success it is today.

Tan y Castell Foods Limited is the creation of Paul and Linda Mear.

Paul started producing Welshcakes from his home using an old Aga,selling to the local shops around his farm over 16 years ago.

Once he had saved up enough money, he then moved the business into an old cottage to set up a purpose kitchen and small bakery to further develop the Welshcakes.

He then started selling further afield as word of mouth got around. Paul would travel around Pembrokeshire selling Welshcakes to village stores, hotels guest houses, cafes and restaurants.

Demand soon outstripped supply and space became limited. Paul then found a unit for rent in Narberth in a small business park not far from where he was living.

By this time Paul was working at a local college as a lecturer to help support the business and after work would then produce Welshcakes working to the early hours of the morning to meet demand.

A local supermarket became interested and arranged a meeting with Paul to discuss supplying all their stores in Wales.

Then Paul and Linda decided it was time to give up their full time jobs and work solely on the business.

Expansion was now required and Paul soon took over the unit next door. Very soon more supermarkets became interested. Paul started to employ local staff to meet this demand.

"Today we now have a purpose built factory employing over 40 staff and produce several different products for catering and retail to an array of customers from every major supermarket, county councils, rail companies, airports, five star hotels, car manufacturers to Fortnum and Mason to name but a few," said Paul.

"We have won a number of awards for our products which are available throughout the UK.

"A special thank you goes to all the village stores, cafes, restaurants and hotels in Pembrokeshire that have supported us from the very beginning."

To find out more about the firm's products call 01834 861997, email info@welshcakes.com, go to www.welshcakes.com, or find the firm on Twitter and Facebook .