Princes Gate snaps up water cooler rival

Princes Gate Cool Water - 2008-07-09

An award-winning Pembrokeshire company which supplies water coolers to offices across Wales has doubled in size following its acquisition of a rival firm.

Princes Gate Cool Water Ltd, which employs 14 people at its site near Narberth, has bought the Porthcawl Water Company in a move that will create the biggest company of its kind in Wales.

Managing director Glyn Jones says the acquisition will result in his company having 5,000 water cooler placements in Wales.

The company has now set its sights across the Severn Bridge. “We plan to expand our market further into England,’’ says Mr Jones, who established Princes Gate Cool Water Ltd in March 2001, with his brother, David. “We have always been keen to saturate the Welsh market and to become market leaders in the UK.’’

The acquisition comes just months after Princes Gate Cool Water Ltd was named Pembrokeshire Business of the Year at the Pembrokeshire Business Awards.

Mr Jones says the Porthcawl Water Company was an ideal match for the business at Princes Gate. “Porthcawl Water’s quality of service is similar to our own,’’ he says. “Both companies are committed to customer service and we pride ourselves on being able to deliver a quality service, and supply a quality product, which is reflected in our rapidly increasing client-base.’’

The acquisition gives the company a depot in South Wales alongside its existing depot in Chepstow. “This gives us blanket coverage in South Wales,’’ says Mr Jones.

Princes Gate Cool Water Ltd’s major clients include Stena Line, Chevron and Murco and it has been the preferred supplier of spring water to the Welsh Rugby Union. It is the only Welsh company to be a member of both the European Point-of-Use Drinking Water Association and the British Water Cooler Association.

The spring water used in its coolers is sourced from Mr Jones’ farmland at Princes Gate, which is certified as organic by the Soil Association.