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Different Dog has secured a £1.5m loan from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II to fit out a new production facility in Telford.
The loan, one of the largest to date from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II (MEIF II), was facilitated through fund manager Frontier Development Capital.
The funding will enable founders Charlie and Alex Thurstan to complete a kitchen facility to meet increasing demand for their subscription-based pet food service.
Different Dog was established in 2017 and produces dog food using natural ingredients rather than ultra-processed fillers.
The company has tripled its revenue over the past three years and has previously raised more than £15m in equity investment.
The business currently employs 120 staff and holds B Corp status. Its food is delivered to approximately 20,000 customers via carbon-free couriers. The new Telford premises are intended to provide the capacity required for further scaling of the operation.
The £400m MEIF II provides debt finance and equity investment to small and medium-sized businesses across the Midlands.
It is managed by the British Business Bank with the aim of supporting regional economic growth and innovation
Alex Thurstan, co-founder of Different Dog, said: “We give our children home-cooked food every day. Good nutrition helps them thrive and grow – and dogs are no different. We set out to change dogs’ lives with real food. The new kitchen is a big step forward for us, and will help us change the lives of even more dogs.”
Ryan Cartwright of Frontier Development Capital added: “The new premises will give them a larger, more modern facility with capacity for future growth. We are pleased to support them in their mission.”
David Tindall, senior investment manager at the British Business Bank, concluded: “Supporting businesses with their next phase of growth is exactly what the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II was created for. With a proven successful model, Different Dog is an excellent example of how businesses can benefit from external finance to scale up and succeed further.”
