Animal feed maker invests for growth

A NORTH West manufacturer of feeds for animals and wild birds has invested £800,000 to boost production.

Southport-based Bulldog Products is expanding to meet soaring demand, here and overseas, for treats for furry and feathered creatures.

The family-owned company makes pet food and treats for small animals, plus wild and caged birds. Its sales have grown significantly during the last four years, with turnover almost doubling.

The new production line, which has been funded by NatWest, enables Bulldog to increase the volume of fatballs it manufactures and reduce the lead times for this product.   Fatballs are a nutritious product used to feed wild birds.
 
Bulldog sells its products to national retailers and wholesalers through its own Dawn Chorus and Linkpet brands. It also makes private label products for customers in the UK and Europe.  

Founded in 1991, Bulldog, which has 90 staff,  is owned and managed by the Graham family.

Director Andrew Graham said: “All our products are sourced from sustainable, environmentally friendly sources and this approach is at the heart of what we do. 

“We are continuing to attract new customers, particularly from foreign markets and have made this investment to capitalise on these opportunities.  The increased production capacity gives us the chance to proactively market the business both at home and abroad.”   

NatWest commercial banking in Liverpool provided the company with a loan to fund its new production line. 

Relationship director Nick Evans, said: “Bulldog has already invested a significant sum in recent years to enhance its production facilities.  The business benefits from a strong and committed management team and we are more than happy to support their plans.”