Mid-Wales General Store Cuts Energy Use Thanks to Development Bank of Wales Help

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Development Bank of Wales , 13th November 2023

Knighton Costcutter is a convenience store in Powys, serving the communities of Knighton and the surrounding villages.

The shop has increased by a quarter of its original space and installed new energy-efficient refrigeration and display units, thanks to a £100,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales.

John Ewens, Knighton Costcutter

The loan – from the Wales Flexible Investment Fund – allowed the creation of more retail space at the shop, and the new cases have helped cut its over-all energy use by up two thirds.

The business is a longstanding customer of the Development Bank. Business owner John Ewens bought the Knighton store in late 2019 with a £200,000 loan from the Wales Business Loan Fund, followed by £60,000 via the Covid Wales Business Loan Scheme in mid-2020.

John Ewens, owner, said:

“I’m really grateful to the Development Bank of Wales for this latest round of investment support. This has given us the chance to take more control of our energy costs, and I wanted to make sure we took steps to future-proof our energy consumption wherever possible.

“The new units have helped us drastically cut over-all energy use, and we’re now able to offer an enhanced range of fresh and chilled goods to our customers.”

Stewart Williams, Portfolio Executive at the Development Bank of Wales, said:

“It’s been a real pleasure to work with John these last few years, and the work he’s done to ensure Knighton Costcutter remains competitive and continues to serve communities in this part of Wales has been fantastic.

“The improvements John has had carried out have been a really sensible step in safeguard the future energy-efficiency of his business, and I’m pleased to have worked with him in securing the investment needed.”

The £500 million Wales Flexible Investment Fund is financed by the Welsh Government and Development Bank of Wales. Loans, mezzanine finance, and equity investments are available for businesses based in Wales from £25,000 to £10 million.

For more information visit www.developmentbank.wales

Mae’r Costcutter Nhrefyclo yn siop gyfleustra ym Mhowys, sy’n gwasanaethu cymunedau Trefyclo a’r pentrefi cyfagos.

Mae’r siop wedi cynyddu chwarter ei gofod gwreiddiol ac wedi gosod unedau rheweiddio ac arddangos ynni-effeithlon newydd, diolch i fenthyciad o £100,000 gan Fanc Datblygu Cymru.

Roedd y benthyciad – gan Gronfa Buddsoddi Hyblyg Cymru – wedi caniatáu creu mwy o le manwerthu yn y siop, ac mae’r achosion newydd wedi helpu i dorri hyd at ddau draean o’i defnydd cyffredinol o ynni.

Mae'r busnes yn un o gwsmeriaid hir sefydlog y Banc Datblygu. Prynodd perchennog y busnes John Ewens y siop yn Nhref-y-clawdd ddiwedd 2019 gyda benthyciad o £200,000 gan Gronfa Benthyciadau Busnes Cymru, ac yna £60,000 trwy Gynllun Benthyciad Busnes Covid Cymru yng nghanol 2020.

Dywedodd John Ewens, perchennog:

“Rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn i Fanc Datblygu Cymru am y rownd ddiweddaraf hon o gymorth buddsoddi. Mae hyn wedi rhoi'r cyfle i ni gymryd mwy o reolaeth dros ein costau ynni, ac roeddwn i eisiau gwneud yn siŵr ein bod yn cymryd camau i ddiogelu ein defnydd o ynni yn y dyfodol lle bynnag y bo modd.

“Mae’r unedau newydd wedi ein helpu i dorri i lawr ar ein holl ddefnydd o ynni yn sylweddol, ac rydym bellach yn gallu cynnig ystod ehangach o nwyddau ffres ac oer i’n cwsmeriaid.”

Dywedodd Stewart Williams, Swyddog Portffolio gyda Banc Datblygu Cymru:

“Mae wedi bod yn bleser pur gweithio gyda John yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, ac mae’r gwaith y mae wedi’i wneud i sicrhau bod Costcutter Trefyclo yn parhau i fod yn gystadleuol ac yn parhau i wasanaethu cymunedau yn y rhan hon o Gymru wedi bod yn wych.

“Mae’r gwelliannau y mae John wedi’u gwneud wedi bod yn gam synhwyrol iawn i ddiogelu effeithlonrwydd ynni ei fusnes yn y dyfodol, ac rwy’n falch o fod wedi gweithio gydag o er mwyn sicrhau’r buddsoddiad sydd ei angen.”

Ariennir Cronfa Buddsoddi Hyblyg Cymru gwerth £500 miliwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru a Banc Datblygu Cymru. Mae benthyciadau, cyllid mesanîn, a buddsoddiadau ecwiti ar gael i fusnesau yng Nghymru o £25,000 i £10 miliwn.

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth ewch i weld www.bancdatblygu.cymru