Alison Lea-Wilson MBE Joint owner and Managing Director of The Anglesey Sea Salt Co Ltd

Alison was educated in Hampshire and at Bangor University where she achieved a BA in English and a PGCE. She was a teacher for 2 years, but she realized that self-employment was more enjoyable, if every bit as challenging.

Between having 3 children, Alison helped grow oysters, picked mussels, and sold seafood. She started Anglesey Sea Zoo with her husband, David, and a friend.

Over the 23 years they ran it, it welcomed 2.5 million paying visitors and employed over 250 people. Alison took responsibility for the retailing, catering, HR and training.

In 2007, Alison and David sold the Sea Zoo to allow them to concentrate on growing The Anglesey Sea Salt Co Ltd. They have built it up and it now:

• employs 23 people
• exports to more than 15 countries
• has blue chip customers including Heston Blumenthal, PepsiCo, Waitrose, M&S, and Green and Blacks Chocolate

The business has attracted at least 30 awards. Notable ones include:

• one for ‘raising the level of world gastronomy’ from European chefs
• gaining 1, 2 and 3 Gold Stars in the Great Taste Awards

Alison works closely with the clusters and mentors start ups.

She is a DBT Export Champion and Secretary of Slow Food Cymru Wales and in 2023 was honoured with an Outstanding Contribution Award at the Wales Food and Drink Awards.

Halen Môn won Protected Designation of Origin status, the first in Wales and the 60th PFN in Britain in 2014. It was also the recipient of the Queen’s Award for Sustainability in 2017 and became a certified BCorp in 2023.

The Lea-Wilson’s first book was published in 2019 - Do Sea Salt - closely followed by a cookery book, ‘Sea Salt’ in 2022.