Pioneering pet food company Poppy’s Picnic is tasting success after securing a 4,000 sq ft manufacturing plant to expand its range.
The firm, which makes raw, nutritional meals for dogs, is making to move to the site in Melksham from its existing base at Bromham, near Chippenham, on the back of an oversubscribed crowdfunding exercise.
Founder Dylan Watkins was inspired to set up the business in October 2016 after spotting a niche in the market for ‘clean’, un-processed dog food.
Having changed his own diet for health reasons, he turned his attention to the processed food he was giving his miniature schnauzer Poppy and decided to experiment with nutritional alternatives.
Poppy’s Picnic was part of the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme for 18 months and with the help of the bank recently raised around £600,000 in crowdfunding.
The new manufacturing plant will be operational over the next few months and will enable the firm to build up its online orders as well as fulfil more retail orders.
It will also extend its product range with a raw cat food – thought to be the first of its kind as well as expanding into the Asia market following sales success in Hong Kong.
Dylan Watkins said: “I’m proud at just how far Poppy’s Picnic has progressed this year.
“My mentors on the NatWest Accelerator Programme have been fantastic; they have helped me channel my energy in the right directions, empowered me to build a strong team, and enabled us to make strategic decisions for our future growth.
“Our new production facility is in the advance stages of planning and we have already brought new and innovative products to the market. The NatWest Accelerator Programme has been invaluable in focusing our vision for an even more exciting future and has helped us to become an award-winning company.”
NatWest business growth enabler Sharad Verma said: “Dylan opened his first NatWest account at the age of 11 and, since joining NatWest’s Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme, it is clear he has an entrepreneurial spirit. It’s been a pleasure to support Dylan on his business journey and I look forward to continuing to do so as his businesses goes from strength to strength.”
