Pet food company Walker & Drake, launched after the first lockdown in 2020, has invested in a new £900,000 production facility in Barnsley.
Director David Taylor said: “The requirement for continuing growth driven expansion, and the increased complexities around exporting into Europe, meant we really had to take all production and packing in-house, and build something bespoke to us that future proofed our production capacity.
“We must be one of very few companies currently building a new pet food facility in the UK but we’re passionate about keeping our production here and having control over all aspects of it. Just like the ingredients we use in our products we’ve sourced the equipment, fabrication, and installation from UK companies wherever possible. In fact, apart from one item, all the major components, the design, and installation team are from within a 25-mile radius of our site.”
The company moved to larger premises last year to facilitate the extra space required for the new factory and warehousing.
Fellow director Tim Matthews added: “By starting with an empty space we’ve been able to create an efficient workflow from goods-in, through the production process to bagging, warehousing and then back out the door as finished product.”
Walker and Drake’s range of cold pressed food for dogs is made from the highest quality ingredients. The meat and majority of vegetables are sourced from British farms and quality producers, and the fish from traceable fisheries.
Cold pressed dog food is a dry dog food which is pressed at a lower temperature of 55-65°C compared to ‘kibbled’ dry dog food which is extruded at a temperature of approximately 145°C. Cold pressing minimises the impact of temperature damage and produces a food with greater digestibility and superior nutritional value.
Tim said: “We have developed great products with clear nutritional advantages, we strive to create a culture of integrity, to communicate clearly and honestly with our customers, and to educate and support our stockists.
“Our cold pressed dog food is a premium product focussed on gut health, and we are constantly talking with our customers to understand what they want for their dogs. The ability to develop new products in a dynamic fashion is fantastic, and the relationships we have already nurtured with our suppliers mean we get the access to the best ingredients available at any time.”
Walker & Drake currently produce three ranges of cold pressed dog food that includes All Life Stages, Small Breed and Puppy, in addition to their range of soft baked dog treats. These have proven a real hit within households with multiple dogs of different ages.
In a short space of time Walker & Drake has received industry recognition. It was voted by Yorkshire Insider Magazine as one of the top 50 companies to watch, and was a finalist in 2021 in both the PetQuip and PIF Awards.
For further information visit www.walkeranddrake.com
