Over the last 3 years, Inspired Pet Nutrition (“IPN”) has enjoyed rapid growth across its core pet business while expanding into new areas such as Baked completes, Wet Trays for Dogs and Cat Pouches.
IPN is therefore pleased to announce a significant strengthening of its senior management team together with the promotion of Graham Wheeler to head up process and innovation.
Chris Wragg will join IPN as Director of Marketing from June 2018. Chris has spent some 20 years in various marketing roles working with some of the UK’s most iconic brands at Nestle and more recently with Mars.
In his new role, Chris will oversee all aspects of IPN’s brand marketing, digital strategy, and creative execution. He will lead a marketing team which manages an increasingly diverse range of brands, including Wagg, Companions, Nineteen87, and of course Harringtons.
Harringtons is firmly established as the UK’s fastest-growing mainstream pet food brand and, on the heels of a multi-year period of substantial marketing investment, now boasts brand awareness on par with companies many times its size.
“Chris is an extremely talented executive with a proven track record of building successful consumer-facing brands," said Richard Page, Managing Director of IPN. “We are excited about the myriad opportunities available to our portfolio of pet food brands, and we believe that Chris will bring a distinctive and thoughtful approach to our continued strong investment behind these brands.”
James Lawson will join IPN as Managing Director of The Real PetFood Company (“TRPC”) from July 2018, as well as IPN’s Operating Board.
James spent the last seven years as Joint Managing Director of GA Pet Food Partners, where he was instrumental in building that business into a Global leader in premium pet foods, made under contract.
James’ unique combination of technical development and commercial acumen will allow IPN to continue crafting best-in-class treats, super premium baked complete food, and industry leading wet food at IPN’s new 120,000 sq ft bakery in Kinmel, North Wales.
In his new role, James will work closely with Graham Wheeler, founder of TRPC and a leading animal nutritionist within the UK. Additionally, in response to global demand for TRPC’s products, James will also support the building up of the business’ export capabilities.
“James is a great addition to the IPN leadership team. His proven skill sets will enable us to continue delivering the best pet food at the best value to the largest number of pet parents," said James Lambert, Chairman of IPN.
Graham Wheeler’s appointment to the Board of IPN was also confirmed. He will lead the group’s renewed focus on developing innovative and exciting products across the entire range of pet foods; ensuring IPN is leading the field in pet nutrition in a changing and challenging consumer environment.
Since 2015, IPN has grown sales in excess of 40%; has invested some £30m in capital projects and with Harringtons, has created a brand with an estimated retail value of c. £60m.
