Little did Gwili Jones think he would witness so many changes in the business he founded 55 years ago at Peniel, Carmarthen. The opening of a second branch at Lampeter in 1993, with a purpose-built facility fulfilling a need in North Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and mid-Wales, is a long way from the carthouse at Hafod where he renovated his first, burnt-out Standard Fordson in 1945. A progression from keeping accounts in a daily diary to the sophistication of a computer; from doing everything himself, with evening and weekend help from “part-timers” - to the orderliness of today’s running of two branches.

Big changes there have been, but the basics of good business strategy remain the same. Gwili’s motto was “Selling is important, service is vital”. He was always aware of each customer’s needs: a farmer’s five acres of hay were just as important as the man with a hundred. He never lost the personal, human touch, and from his own experience as a farmer realised the urgency during harvest of providing a fast, efficient service.

Gwili’s name remains well known throughout the agricultural industry over a wide area, and his interest in the business remains undimmed, and his experience valued. The fundamental rules of good business established by Gwili and his wife Eileen over the years continue to be upheld by their son, Huw, at Hafod, and son-in-law Nigel at Lampeter.

Adhering to the basic ethics of good business practice inherited from his father, Huw Jones heads the branch at Peniel, and with over thirty years of experience in the business appreciates the importance of continuously adapting in order to satisfy changing customer needs.

The rapid and sustained growth of the company during the 1980’s was consolidated when a new branch was opened in 1990, at Lampeter, Ceredigion, some twenty five miles north of Carmarthen. At this point, Nigel Davies, Huw’s brother-in-law, joined the company in order to take charge of the project. With more than a decade of management experience within the transport industry, his skills have proved to be a valuable asset to the partnership of Gwili Jones & Sons.

Since then, both branches have continued to go from strength to strength, and remain a family business committed to serving the farming community throughout west and mid Wales.