A SWANSEA businesswoman scooped the second monthly Swansea Marriott and Evening Post Business Award.
Connie Parry, of Hurns Brewing Company, picked up February's gong which is supported by the West Wales Chamber of Commerce, Swansea University’s School of Business and Economics, and Swansea Bay Partnership.
She was propelled into helping her brother Phil run the family business aged 16, straight from school.
It followed the deaths of her grandfather and father who passed away within a month of each other.
Miss Parry, of Langland, and her brother made up half of the firm’s workforce.
But from tiny acorns mighty oak trees grow and by 1995 she had helped to turn Hurns into the largest independent distributor of beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks in South Wales.
In 2002 they acquired the Tomos Watkin Brewery in Swansea Enterprise Park and now employ a total of 75 people.
There are also plans to expand the company as they already export beers as far afield as America, Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, Denmark and Spain.
“It wasn’t until my brother and I were old enough to leave school that we entered into the business and started to learn the ropes,” said Miss Parry.
“It was very difficult at first.”
So what was the key to turning the business into the success story it is today from such humble beginnings?
“Sheer determination and the naivety that we wouldn’t fail,” said Miss Parry.
“It meant a lot to us that it belonged to our father and grandfather.
“I have two brothers that I rely on, admire and look up to enormously. My eldest brother Philip is the managing director of the brewery and the main reason behind its success.
“He has a natural ability for sales and marketing. His enthusiasm for Tomos Watkin is infectious and he motivates our sales team.
“Our brewers Mark and Alex, headed up by Dave Campbell, produce what we believe is the finest beer in the world.
“And the drive and determination of our staff has helped us become one of the largest independent wholesale companies in South Wales.”
