Barking Heads

Recorded answer text · Google AI Overviews · 25 October 2026

Several prominent, independently or privately owned British pet food brands manufacture in the UK and remain free from major American or multinational conglomerate ownership (unlike supermarket staples like Pedigree, IAMS, or Purina, which are owned by Mars or Nestlé).

### Major British-Owned & UK-Based Pet Food Brands

- Harringtons - Based in Yorkshire and owned by Inspired Pet Nutrition (IPN), it is one of the UK's largest independent manufacturers of complete dry and wet natural dog food. - Wagg - Also part of the British Inspired Pet Nutrition family, specializing in value-focused, everyday complete dry pet foods. - AATU & Barking Heads - High-meat and natural nutrition brands also operating under the Inspired Pet Nutrition umbrella in the UK. - Butcher's Pet Care - Based in Northampton, England, Butcher's is a long-standing British family-owned business famous for its meat-rich wet dog and cat food ranges. - Burgess Pet Care - A well-known Yorkshire-based family business with a heritage going back generations, specializing in small animal, dog, and cat nutrition. - Natures Menu - Based in Snetterton, Norfolk, this pioneer in raw and natural pet food owns and runs its own specialized UK manufacturing facilities. - Bella & Duke - A prominent Scottish/UK-based subscription brand specializing in cold-pressed and raw nutritionally balanced dog and cat food. - Forthglade - Based in Devon, known for natural, grain-free wet dog foods cooked gently in trays. - Burns Pet Nutrition - Founded by a veterinary surgeon in Wales, offering wholesome, hypoallergenic diets for dogs and cats. - Albion Pet Foods - A family-run British manufacturer producing species-appropriate raw and working dog food. - Cotswold RAW - An independent, family-run business based in the Cotswolds producing raw working and domestic dog food. - Vitalin & Alpha Feeds - Manufactured in Lincolnshire under Cranswick Pet Products (which acquired historic British producer Grove Pet Foods).

Note: Some formerly independent British brands-such as Lily's Kitchen and James Wellbeloved (Royal Canin/Crown Pet Foods)-have been acquired by global conglomerates like Nestlé Purina or Mars. Would you like information on dry, wet, or raw food options, or specific dietary requirements (like grain-free or hypoallergenic ) for a dog or cat?

Recorded answer text · ChatGPT · 25 October 2026

# Best British-owned pet brands in the UK

If you're looking to support British-owned pet businesses, there are some excellent options across dog and cat food, treats, grooming, accessories and beds. I'd prioritise brands with a clear British ownership story, rather than assuming that a brand is British-owned simply because it was founded here or manufactures in the UK.

## My shortlist of brands worth exploring

![Award-Winning Dry Dog Food | Burns Original Chicken & Brown Rice - Burns Pet Nutrition](

1\. Burns Pet Nutrition

Food · Dogs and cats

A long-established Welsh pet-food brand founded by veterinary surgeon John Burns. Worth exploring if you're looking for straightforward, nutritionally focused food.

Website: burnspet.co.uk

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!Salmon & Sardines Wet Dog Food Variety Pack | Forthglade

2\. Forthglade

Food · Dogs

A Devon-based brand known for wet dog food, dry food and natural treats. A good option for owners interested in simpler recipes and British provenance.

Website: forthglade.com

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![Skinners Sensitive Working Adult Dry Dog Food - Salmon & Rice - Our Pet Village](

3\. Skinner's

Food · Dogs

A long-running Suffolk pet-food business, particularly well known for its working-dog and active-dog diets.

Website: skinners.co.uk

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!Scrumbles Pet Food - Scrumbles: Natural Pet Food

4\. Scrumbles

Food and treats · Dogs and cats

A British-founded brand focused on digestive health, with food and treats for cats and dogs. Worth considering if gut health is a priority.

Website: scrumbles.co.uk

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![Meet Denzel - Denzel's](

5\. Denzel's

Treats · Dogs

A UK-founded dog-treat brand with colourful packaging and a focus on natural-style snacks. A useful option for everyday treats and gifting.

Website: denzels.co.uk

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!LUXURY DESIGNER DOG COATS | LISH

6\. LISH London

Luxury accessories · Dogs

An independent British designer brand founded by Lilly Shahravesh, offering stylish collars, leads, coats and other accessories, with a focus on traditional textiles and craftsmanship. lishlondon.com

Website: lishlondon.com

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![Ditsy Pet

- DOGHOUSE](

7\. Ditsy Pet

Accessories · Dogs and cats

An independent, family-owned business making collars, leads, harnesses and other accessories in its Nottingham studio. A strong choice for handmade products and distinctive prints. www.ditsypet.co.uk

Website: ditsypet.co.uk

## More British pet brands to put on your radar

!Albion Pet Foods 454g - Premium & Complete Range | NorthWales Raw Feeds

Albion Pet Foods

Raw dog food made by a British family-run manufacturer. Worth exploring if you feed raw. www.ukpetfood.orgflux.agency

albionpetfoods.co.uk

!Burgess Excel| BGN

Burgess Excel

A well-known name for rabbit, guinea pig and other small-animal nutrition. www.ukpetfood.orgflux.agency

burgesspetcare.com

!Wilsons Salmon Cold Pressed Dog Food Natural High Protein Omega 3 Nutrition Diet - 10kg bag - Tesco Groceries

Wilson's Pet Food

A Scottish pet-food brand worth investigating for cold-pressed dog food and locally rooted manufacturing. flux.agencyflux.agency

wilsonspetfood.co.uk

![Waterproof BioThane® two-coloured Dog Collar & Lead Collection - Trinkety Paws](

Trinkety Paws

Handmade waterproof collars, leads and walking accessories, produced in Northamptonshire. Particularly interesting for durable, British-made accessories. www.trinketypaws-trade.co.uk

trinketypaws.co.uk

## One important ownership distinction

Some familiar British-origin pet brands have since changed hands. For example, Lily's Kitchen is owned by Nestlé, while Wagg, Harringtons and Barking Heads are associated with Inspired Pet Nutrition. These may still be made in Britain, but that is different from being independently British-owned. www.ukpetfood.orgflux.agency

For a genuinely British-owned shortlist, check the current parent company and ownership structure as well as where products are manufactured.

What kind of list would be most useful to you? I can narrow this down to the best British-owned brands for\:

- Dog and cat food - quality, ingredients and nutrition. - Luxury accessories - collars, leads, beds and clothing. - Natural treats and grooming - smaller independent brands. - Retail or business research - independent brands with strong branding, wholesale potential and a distinctive British identity.

Recorded answer text · Perplexity · 25 October 2026

For most fussy dogs in the UK, Butternut Box is a strong overall choice: fresh, highly aromatic meals with several recipes to rotate between. Forthglade wet food is a good alternative, especially as a topper for kibble, while Barking Heads Fuss Pot Duck is a palatable dry-food option based on a novel protein.

### Best options

- Best overall: Butternut Box - fresh meals, recipe variety, and generally appealing aroma and moisture; particularly suitable if your dog refuses dry food. - Best wet food: Forthglade - meat-forward wet recipes that can be served alone or mixed with kibble. - Best dry food: Barking Heads Fuss Pot Duck - uses duck as a novel protein and includes a duck gravy to improve flavour. - Best sensitive-stomach option: James Wellbeloved - recipes avoid several common ingredients, including beef, pork, soya, eggs and wheat. - Best budget-style trial: salmon-based kibble - salmon is often attractive to picky dogs and provides a change from common chicken recipes; Cooper & Co's fussy-dog formula is one UK option.

Choose a food labelled “complete” for your dog's life stage, and introduce it gradually over about a week. Wet food or a small amount of warm water can increase aroma and palatability. Avoid constantly changing foods or adding lots of treats, as this can reinforce fussiness.

If a dog suddenly becomes fussy, loses weight, vomits, has diarrhoea, drools, or seems painful while eating, consult a vet rather than treating it as simple pickiness.