A Gwynedd food wholesaler is expecting its busiest Christmas yet after reporting a 1,100 per cent increase in festive pre-orders.

Harlech Foodservice revealed the figures as it brought together 40 members of staff and 28 suppliers for its first Christmas Roadshow in Wrexham.

The family-run company, which is based in Cricieth and has operations across Wales and England, has launched a Christmas brochure featuring 420 festive products, including 78 new lines.

The products will be supplied to restaurants, pubs, schools and hospitals across Wales, the North West of England, Shropshire and the Midlands.

The roadshow saw suppliers take part in speed-dating style sessions, giving Harlech staff eight minutes to sample products and find out more about each company's festive range.

Harlech commercial manager Chris Gregson said the event was designed to ensure staff understood the products they would be selling to customers.

He said pre-orders had increased by around 1,100 per cent compared with the same period last year, just two weeks after the Christmas brochure was launched.

The company is also offering customers a free bottle of Prosecco when they place a Christmas pre-order worth £250.

Harlech managing director Mark Lawton said Christmas was a crucial trading period for the food and drink industry and the roadshow was ultimately about helping customers have a successful festive season.

Among the suppliers attending was Snowdonia Cheese, which has a production site in Rhyl and offices in Deeside.

The company has supplied Harlech Foodservice for more than 10 years, with national account manager Olivia Gratwick describing Christmas as a particularly important period for the business.

She said around 60 to 70 per cent of Snowdonia Cheese's business was generated during the Christmas period, when demand increases for cheeseboards and food gifts.

Caernarfon-based Ready Foods also took part. The company employs around 100 people and specialises in slow-cooked chicken, pork and turkey products.

Business development manager Bill Currie said the company currently has six products listed with Harlech and is continuing to expand.

Ready Foods is also celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Harlech Foodservice has bases in Cricieth, Chester, Carmarthen, Aberbargoed and Telford and is on course for record sales of £75 million following its recent expansion across Wales and England.