On Friday 6th March, HRH The Prince of Wales visited Celtic & Co. in Newquay, Cornwall in celebration of their 30th anniversary.
Since purchasing a small company in 1990 with just 7 pairs in stock, Nick & Kath Whitworth quickly taught themselves how to sew and have now grown a small business into the UK’s largest retailer of sheepskin & natural materials, all while still keeping family and the local community at its core. Manufacturing is of huge importance to the business and is still at the very heart of it today with the flag proudly waving for British manufacturing, by making sheepskin boots, slippers and accessories by hand in their factory in Newquay.
To mark the occasion, HRH The Prince of Wales was warmly welcomed to the factory where a tour soon began, guided by owners Nick & Kath Whitworth. He keenly followed the process of how one of their famous bootee slippers is made from start to finish, asking questions along the way and speaking with the talented staff of Celtic & Co. who make them. The tour then concluded through to the company warehouse, which dispatches orders directly to customers in over 60 countries worldwide. Celtic & Co. employs 52 permanent staff year-round and is a vital part of the local community, in an area otherwise difficult to find work in the winter months. With the company achieving a 10% increase year on year & huge increases in international growth, it is no wonder that they were recognised and awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2018 for International Trade.
In conclusion to the tour, Celtic & Co. hosted a small reception in honour of the event with HRH The Prince of Wales talking fondly of what the company has achieved, the Campaign for Wool, of which he is Patron & Nick & Kath Whitworth avidly support, and also applauding the great steps in which Celtic & Co. have taken in ensuring sustainability has been at its very core for the last thirty years. To make the occasion, HRH The Prince of Wales then unveiled a locally made plaque, receiving applause throughout.
For more information or imagery, please email me at felicity.mayers@celticandco.com or call 01637 870059
