Naturaw Pet Food secures funding to expand UK production

Based in Yorkshire, England, the company secured a six-figure funding deal to outfit its 15,000-square-foot production facility.

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Naturaw Pet Food, a supplier of raw pet food in the United Kingdom, will use a six-figure investment to outfit its new 15,000-square-foot production facility at Thorp Arch Estate, which doubles the company’s production floorspace. The funding was secured from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), managed by Mercia Debt Finance.

Founded in 2014 by Jess Warneken, Naturaw started life in Tockwith at Marston Moor Business Park, before expanding to 6,000-square-foot premises at Hessay Industrial Estate near York two years later. In 2021, the company moved into its new headquarters and production kitchen at Thorp Arch Estate near Wetherby. Over the past 18 months, Naturaw has doubled its staff from 18 to 35, and won the King’s Award for Enterprise for excellence in sustainable development.

“Naturaw is a purpose-led business that has quickly built a following amongst pet owners and become a leader in its field,” said Gary Whitaker, investment manager at Mercia Debt. “Access to funding is vital for fast-growing firms like these as they are constantly having to invest in bigger premises, new equipment and staff, and they need more working capital. We are pleased to be able to support the Naturaw team as they take the business to the next stage of its development.”

Known for its high-welfare meat and plastic-free packaging, Naturaw is registered as a certified B Corp and serves over 15,000 customers, including individual pet owners, independent pet stores and grooming salons.

Warneken was inspired by her Rhodesian Ridgeback, Louis, to start Nauraw. After struggling with recurrent ear and skin issues, Louis experienced a remarkable transformation when she began feeding him a fresh, meat-based diet. Warneken was joined by her partner, Tom Johnson, who created the brand identity, and later by Chris Broadbent, an experienced company director.

“Dogs are designed to eat fresh, natural, raw food rather than processed ingredients and we’re passionate about creating the best raw food we can," said Warneken. "As demand continued to rise, it was clear we had outgrown our existing premises and we had no option but to take on and fit out a second unit. Together with the funding from Mercia and NPIF II, we now have both the space and the finance we need to continue growing the business.”

Adapted from a press release.

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