Alan founded A G Parfett's & Sons in July 1980, following an established career in the wholesale industry in which he has worked with various food companies since 1945. Prior to going solo, Alan enjoyed a long and successful career at wholesalers Lonsdale and Thompson as Chief Executive.

His first depot was a 25,000 sq ft warehouse in Reddish, Stockport, which he took over from Snowdon and Bridge in 1980, and ran with his wife Pat and eldest son Steve. Over the next ten years, Parfetts acquired a further two depots in Liverpool, located at Anfield and Aintree.

Alan retired as Managing Director in February 1989, becoming Chairman of the company whilst Steve took over the Managing Director role. During the 1980’s Alan held the position of Chairman of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors and was also on the Board of Directors at the Landmark Group, of which Parfetts is a leading member. Even after his retirement, Alan remained on the Landmark Board of Directors until 1994.

In his position as Chairman, Alan retains an active interest in the future direction of Parfetts and is involved in all major decisions.

Since Parfetts began trading in 1980, Steve has been involved in the management and running of the family business. Along with his father, Alan, Steve helped establish the business in its crucial early years, working seven days a week to ensure its success.

Upon Alan’s retirement in 1989, Steve was made Managing Director, assisted by his brother and fellow Director Robert Parfett and Robert Miller the Financial Director.

In handing over control of the company, Alan Parfett set Robert and Steve the challenge of reaching £100 million sales in their first year in charge (Parfetts’ tenth). This was duly achieved and the company went on to double this figure as it celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Steve has continued to expand the business, acquiring Parfetts’ fifth depot in 1998 in Halifax, taking over a fellow Landmark member’s business. Its sixth depot was opened in 2004 in Sheffield.

He has been keen to develop the partnership with the Landmark Group and, when Alan retired from Landmark’s Board of Directors in 1994, Steve followed in his father’s footsteps and was elected to take his place. The following year, Steve became Chairman of the Group.

In March 2000, Steve was also elected Chairman of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors, a position Alan Parfett held in the 1980’s. This is the first time in FWD history that a father and son have held this prestigious position.

Robert joined the family business in 1981 after graduating from Sheffield University with a Business Degree.

In the early days of A G Parfett's & Sons, Robert, along with the rest of the family, was very hands-on in the running of all areas of the business. He was responsible for a multitude of roles from running the shop floor, liaising with auditors and basic book keeping to overseeing the non-licensed side of trading. He was also key in establishing the fresh food buying side of the business.

Robert was quickly made Director and, when his father retired in 1989, he stepped up to assist in the day-to-day management of the company. A year later he was awarded the FWD Young Wholesalers award along with Steve.

These days, Robert is principally responsible for three key areas at Parfetts: personnel, customer development and IT. Within this role he oversees staff training, customer service and the company’s major investment in IT and technology.

David assumes the role as Financial Director, following the retirement of Robert Miller in 2006.

David's previous roles at Parfetts included Deputy General Manager of the Sheffield depot, being a key part of the team that opened the new depot in 2004. He was rewarded with a FWD Gold Medal for Depot Manager of the Year for this role. Prior to this, David was Company Accountant with Parfetts for over 10 years.

He is only the third non-family member invited onto the board in the Parfetts' history.

Bill was appointed Trading Director in March 2003, in what was only the second appointment of a non-family Director in Parfetts’ 25-year history.

Bill joined Parfetts in 1986 as joint General Manager of its new Aintree depot. His trading skills quickly became invaluable to the company, and he was appointed Group Buying and Trade Marketing Controller in 1992.

In addition to his role as main Board Director, Bill also assumes responsibility for the overall group trading policy and oversees all aspects of buying. He is based at the company’s trading head office at its Aintree depot.