The increase in capacity has been funded with a seven-figure funding package from HSBC UK, which will allow it to add new production lines to its current operation.
Butternut Box creates a wide range of fresh meals with human-quality meat and vegetables, with the calories “algorithmically tailored” to each dog based on a variety of attributes such as age, breed, body condition and activity level.
New production line
The production line will be installed at its 200,000 sq. ft. Doncaster factory, which it said is the largest fresh pet food factory in Europe
The increase in capacity will allow the company to prioritise its growth strategy, with increased popularity in the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands
Ed Carey, chief financial officer at Butternut Box, said: “We’ve seen demand increase for our products, with customers resonating with our fresh, human-grade pet food offering, as well as our bespoke subscription plans. We’re grateful to HSBC UK for their continued support as we look to continue to grow not only in the UK but across Europe."
Substantial growth
Alex Brown, corporate relationship director at HSBC UK, added: “Butternut Box is leading the way in the fresh pet food market and has seen substantial growth, particularly with increased dog ownership since the pandemic. We’re pleased to support its ambitious plans by enabling the company to introduce an additional production line. We look forward to supporting the business with its global expansion plans and to seeing its continued growth.”
In August 2021, the company raised £40M to support growth. This funding round was led by L Catterton, and included strong participation from White Star Capital, Five Seasons Ventures and Passion Capital.