Liverpool ‘raw’ dog food brand Mersey Raw invests £100,000 in 29,000 sq ft production facility to meet soaring demand from pet owners. Tony McDonough reports

Just four years after it was founded by entrepreneur Ben McIntyre Liverpool ‘raw’ dog food brand Mersey Raw has invested in a major increase in capacity.

Ben has invested 100,000 in a 29,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Bootle, replacing its previous 2,300 sq ft production unit. It will allow the venture to meet rising demand with daily production currently as high as 6,000 meals.

A few years ago Ben was left devastated when his beloved dog Jake died of liver failure. But he channelled his heartbreak into an idea that is quickly becoming a national success.

Jake’s death led Ben to question the highly processed diets commonly promoted within the mainstream pet food industry. Determined to challenge the status quo, he began researching what dogs are biologically designed to eat.

He started producing raw dog food. Working initially from a small café kitchen, he began formulating meals using fresh, natural ingredients without fillers or additives. This latest production facility is in the former Lockwoods factory in Bridle Way.

“Taking on a facility of this size is a huge milestone for the business and a reflection of how far we’ve come in a relatively short space of time,” said Ben.

“When we started Mersey Raw, we were operating on a much smaller scale with a simple goal of producing the best possible food for dogs.

“Demand has continued to grow year after year, and we reached the point where we needed a facility capable of supporting our ambitions for the future.

“We’ve invested heavily in the site because we believe in what we’re building and in the opportunities this move creates for the business.”

Mersey Raw has invested more than £100,000 into transforming the site, which was historically a meat-production facility, funding extensive repairs, facility upgrades, new equipment and redevelopment works throughout the building.

This investment has included overhauling core infrastructure, bringing a previously unused production area back into operation, redeveloping the on-site shop, upgrading office and communal facilities and creating a high-output fulfilment area to support future growth.

Mersey Raw has recorded revenue growth of 25% over the past year despite significant investment and resources being dedicated to securing and preparing the new facility for operation.

Before relocating, it produced an average of around 1.2 tonnes of product per day, equivalent to approximately 2,400 meals. The business now averages around 2.5 tonnes per day, or roughly 5,000 meals, with production continuing to increase week on week.

It has also recently recorded its highest-ever production day, producing more than three tonnes of product in a single day-  equivalent to over 6,000 meals.

Since moving into the new facility, Mersey Raw has expanded its team and introduced four new roles focused on growth, marketing and brand awareness. The site also provides substantial room for future expansion.

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Ben added: “The increase in capacity has been immediate. We’ve gone from producing around 2,400 meals a day to approximately 5,000 meals a day on average, and we’ve already had days where we’ve produced more than 6,000 meals.

“But for us, this move is about much more than output. It’s about creating the foundations for the next phase of growth, developing new products, entering new markets and continuing to grow the business here in Bootle.”