Wilsons, which produces cold pressed and raw frozen dog food, has won the final stage of the Scottish EDGE 15 awards.
More than 250 companies pitched in this year’s competition and these were whittled down to just 18 for the final pitch in front of a live audience at the RBS Conference Centre in Gogarburn, Edinburgh. The event was guested by Theo Paphitis, entrepreneur and star of the BBC’s ‘Dragons’ Den’, and high-profile entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter, whose Hunter Foundation is one of the key supporters of Scottish EDGE.
This is the UK’s biggest funding competition for small businesses, aiming to help accelerate the success of companies that have demonstrated encouraging growth. It also provides a business support package that includes mentoring, support and signposting to alternative finance.
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Wilsons has been producing pet food in Scotland for more than 150 years and was one of only a small number of businesses to win awards. The company came away with £50,000, having achieved 500% growth since buying the business through investment in the UK’s first purpose-built cold pressed manufacturing facility, followed by the opening of a new frozen dog food factory in October this year.
The number of stockists using Wilsons products has increased to more than 160 and now, with the help of securing this investment, the company is looking forward to continued growth, with product launches and further spreading the word of ‘Scotland’s best kept secret’.
Craig Wallace, Wilsons Pet Food’s managing director, said: “Winning Scottish EDGE is a great achievement for the team at Wilsons. This investment is going to greatly help us expand our team here and further support our independent retailers. It will also help us launch our new range of premium natural treats, coming out in Spring 2020.”
