Mike Felton, founder of Caterfood

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Mike Felton

Spotlight - Mike Felton

From the window of the bar of his pub the Steam Packet in Kingswear, businessman Mike Felton has a clear view of his Caterfood vans whizzing to and fro between the eateries of Dartmouth.

Mike and his wife Babs founded Caterfood in 1970, and from humble beginnings in the old Walls depot in Manor Road, Torquay, the company now runs 47 vehicles from new headquarters in Yalberton.

The firm distributes food to catering outlets all over the South West. Its staff are on duty from seven in the morning to eleven at night, taking calls and making sure clients get exactly what they want the following day. They start loading the vehicles at 11pm as soon as the last order is collected.

“I’m very proud of the fact that my family has built this company up from nothing,” said Mike. “Babs and I started work on Caterfood when our children were small, starting off with a shop in an old dairy in Torquay.

“I’m now 74 years old but I am still the chairman and go in every morning. My son Mark is the managing director, my other son Michael is the distribution director, and my daughter Lisa helps him organise all the transport. We have 13 grandchildren and some of them work for me too. It is very important to me that Caterfood is a family firm. Our two great grandchildren are a bit small to be involved just yet!”

Mike originally trained as a shoe maker and was set to join his father’s family firm in Kettering, Northamptonshire. But while he was away serving with the Army on National Service, his father sold the company and bought a farm on the Helford in Cornwall. Mike and Babs farmed there until 1967, when they bought the shop in Torquay. They moved to their beloved Kingswear 31 years ago, and Mike has been the owner of the Steam Packet for five years.

He said: “We love being here and having all our family around us. Babs and I celebrated our Golden Wedding last year with a party at the Dartmouth Apprentice, and we are very proud of our children and grandchildren.

“We enjoy having the Steam Packet. Babs is a fantastic cook and every Sunday she makes lovely traditional bar snacks – sausages, dips, cheese and pickles - which we bring down and enjoy with our customers.

“I’ve got a fast rib and we regularly go out on the river in that, or out for lunch. I’m also a marshall for Regatta and get involved with that – keeps me young!”

First published July 2010 By the Dart