UK cat food producer KatKin has secured a new investor, Active Partners. The investment firm is joining the company’s existing rooster of backers which includes Perwyn, V3 Ventures (Verlinvest) and Octopus Ventures.
KatKin said in a statement that its vet-formulated fresh food uses real meat that is gently cooked with the aim to lock in nutrients and flavor, and is subsequently frozen fresh.
“Founded in 2020, KatKin has now delivered over 35 million fresh meals to 200,000 cats. The brand also recently announced its first retail partnership with online grocery store Ocado to reach a more mass market,” the cat food specialist said. “The new funds will be used to fuel growth through DTC channels and retail partnerships, drive category awareness for fresh cat food, expand its team and invest in further product innovation.”
The value of the investment was not disclosed.
Data released by KatKin suggests that there are 11.1 million cats in the UK alone.
The global cat food market is expected to be worth more than $40 billion by 2030, and over 40% of cat owners are “interested in buying fresh, incumbents in the pet food category have been slow to innovate, packing heat-sterilized products light in meat with low-quality grains, dry meat meals, fillers and cereals,” according to the statement.
Canadian pet food brand hires new operations manager to support mini training treat rollout
Canadian pet food brand Healthybud has hired Shawn Brewster as its new operations manager, hoping that he will contribute to the ongoing roll out of its new mini training treats range across North American retail outlets, according to senior company representatives.
“Shawn joins us with a wealth of experience in supply chain, production, warehousing, logistics, and general operations management. His expertise will be invaluable in enhancing and streamlining our operational efficiencies as our order volume continues to increase,” Kyle Feigenbaum, the co-founder of CEO Healthybud, told Petfoodindustry.com in a statement.
Healthybud’s representatives say that the product range is available at its online store, Amazon and Chewy.com, as well as hundreds of stores across North America. The company hopes to expand o more pet specialty retailers in the near future.
“We're so excited to bring the first functional superfood training treats to the pet market. We've heard from our community and this is the treat they've all been waiting for, so to be able to bring this product to life for them and dogs across North America is really special,” Dana Ben David, Healthybud’s co-founder and creative director, told Petfoodindustry.com.
The Montreal-based company describes its product portfolio as “superfood-packed treats, meal toppers and freeze-dried raw food for dogs.”
UK pet food producer boosts revenues
Bella & Duke, a Fife-based raw pet food subscription specialist, has reported record sales for its latest financial year, at some £23 million (US$29 million), and hopes to further increase its revenues to some £35 million this year, according to senior company representatives.
“2024 is already shaping up to be incredibly exciting for us. I can’t wait to see what it brings,” Mark Scott, the company’s chief executive who cofounded Bella & Duke with Tony Ottley in 2016, told local daily The Courier.
In two years time, the company hopes to reach sales of about £50 million, more than doubling its result from the previous financial year.
With more than 130 employees, the UK business says it is the country’s leading pet food subscription firm. In 2023, Bella & Duke delivered some 15 million meals to pets across the UK.
As part of its expansion plans, the business is aiming to recruit a number of new staff members this year, according to Scott.
“Attracting the right people is always a challenge for a growing business,” the CEO said. “We’ve got a really good bunch of people right across the business. We’re really proud of what they’ve done.”
