Although it has been producing raw and ambient foods for pets for almost 33 years, Natures Menu has suddenly become a triple award-winning company.
The Norfolk-based company won two New Product Awards at PATS Harrogate, and was voted Supplier of the Year in the PetQuip Industry Awards.
So what's changed to make people sit up and take notice? UK and European key account manager Sallie-Ann King explains...
Why do you think you've been recognised with these awards?
As a company we have worked very hard to ‘get it right’. We are constantly reviewing and analysing to improve our products and develop the market further to give consumers what they want. We have invested in improving all aspects of our business and work hard to continue to do so. It was fantastic to be recognised for all the collective effort we have put in as a team to get to this point.
How has the company changed over the past couple of years?
We’ve been making fantastic raw and ambient foods for pets for almost 33 years now and we knew we had a great proposition to offer the discerning pet owner. Over the past two years we have worked very hard to share our journey and create a strong brand image which consumers identified with as being natural and honest. We’ve looked carefully at product quality for existing lines and product innovation for developing ranges. Showcasing a whole new range of products at PATS has helped to strengthen our relationship with retailers.
Retailers are obviously believing in your products – is their enthusiasm starting to rub off on their consumers?
Our customers have grown with us and we are where we are today because they have tried and tested our products, loved them and come back for more! We have invested, and continue to invest heavily, in supporting our customers. We have a field customer support team who cover the whole of the UK to help our customers reach their full potential as Natures Menu stockists.
How do you support the retailer in promoting and marketing your products?
We offer a fantastic support network including store visits, training days, eye-catching point of sale, nutritional support, plus a fantastic in-house sales and customer service team to offer advice and collect orders. Our fleet of dual compartment temperature controlled delivery vans run from our four depots across the UK to deliver customer orders as and when they need them.
Do you think more pet owners are moving towards ethically sourced ingredients for their animal's food?
Absolutely! I think people are more aware in general. What they eat themselves, what they feed their families and pets fall into this category so it’s inevitable they start to think about what they are feeding. Poor quality foods are accountable for so many ailments in both human and pet foods and people are becoming more aware of this link. At Natures Menu we operate a strict animal welfare policy and control 100% of our raw material sourcing ensuring we only use the best fresh ingredients in our products.
What benefits does your food give my dog that it can't get from a bag of food bought cheaply at my local supermarket?
The entire Natures Menu range lists meat as its first ingredient. When we say this we mean real meat in its natural state. We don’t process or grind it, we just mince, chop or slice it then add fresh vegetables, fruit, oils and selected herbs. We offer clear transparent labelling, lots of fresh meat in every product and minimal processing. We make real food for pets - the kind of food dogs and cats are supposed to eat and love to eat! It’s amazing when customers make the switch and then see the difference...we never get bored of that!
For more information visit www.naturesmenu.co.uk
Is this just the start of the award-winning trail for the Natures Menu team?
