Scottish-based manufacturer Wilsons Pet Food has received £1 million of investment from the Investment Fund for Scotland (IFS).
Wilsons claims to be the UK’s leading producer of natural cold pressed dry dog food, with two manufacturing facilities. The company also produces raw meals, treats and a recently-launched range of supplements.
The new investment, which is managed by Maven Capital Partners and delivered by the British Business Bank, will enable Wilsons to accelerate growth by supporting the success of its current range, expanding into new product categories, and further enhancing production capabilities. Maven is a subsidiary of Mattioli Woods plc, a leading private equity house, while IFS provides a mix of debt and equity funding, offering commercial finance options with loans from £25k to £100k, debt finance from £100k to £2 million and equity investment up to £5 million.
Wilsons managing director Craig Wallace said: “This investment from Maven Capital Partners in partnership with the British Business Bank could not come at a more exciting time for Wilsons.
“Following our successful rebrand, this investment will be used to enhance production further, helping us complete the installation of a new cold pressed facility. This will enable us to more than quadruple our current production capacity. It will also support the launch of a brand new range of food, invest in some incredible new team members and help increase our support and advertising for our independent pet trade customers.”
Rob Stevenson, investment manager at Maven, added: “Wilsons has achieved impressive organic growth to date and has an exciting pipeline of near-term opportunities across its diverse range of sales channels. The company operates in a competitive space, differentiating themselves through their high quality products with a core focus on cold pressed and raw dog food, in addition to treats and supplements.
“Craig is an entrepreneurial individual with extensive experience in the pet food sector, supported by a strong and passionate team. They have achieved impressive growth in recent years; we’re delighted to be backing the business at such an exciting point in their growth journey.”
