Alex Kennedy started her pet business Doggielicious selling gourmet treats at the Isle of Man Farmers’ Market on a cold and crisp morning in 2011, and has seen it grow into a thriving concern.

This rapid growth has even allowed her to diversify into making dog coats and becoming the UK agent for an American-made portable hydrator system for dogs.

Here Alex reveals how she started her isle of Man business and discusses her exciting plans for the future.

Are you looking to recruit pet retailers in the UK?

Not for the treats and birthday cakes as we are quite busy with various outlets. We currently supply a large supermarket, our own website and a few other online stores. However, we are the agent for the H2Fid0 Portable Pooch Hydrator system, which is new to the UK (it’s designed by a US company called MODGY), and yes we would like to market them to pet retailers.

Apart from the gourmet treats what other pet-related items or accessories do you produce or supply?

We have created some dogs coats, which are very high-end, using some of the world rarest tweeds and tartans – they are woven here on the Isle of Man by Laxey Woollen Mills and I have a tailoress who makes them. The fabric is very limited and once used will never be woven again – it’s on a par with Harris Tweed.  The tailoring is very detailed; infact some parts of the coat are hand-stitched. The coats we have designed are not currently available for wholesale, however we are working on another design that we could offer.

How do see the future for your business?

Like any business you need to diversify. For example, we started out just making dog treats but as the business grew we saw other opportunities – actually, some of it just happened by chance or was due to customer demand. I think as long as you supply a good quality product people will buy it hence we have focussed more on the handmade items.

Where are the treats produced?

They are made by us in a small micro bakery, which we have set up in my house, using locally sourced ingredients produced here in the Isle of Man. The only machine involved is a mixer  – other than that, everything is made, cut and bagged by hand.

What pets do you have?

Yes I have bichon/Cav cross called Amber but I have owned Afghans, Pekinese and mongrels since the age of three.

Is it a 9 to 5 job or are you working longer hours?

At the moment its far more than 9-5 because we go to fairs and shows. We're also applying to exhibit at Crufts next year.

For more information visit http://doggielicioustreats.com/