Animal magic is the secret ingredient in the pet project between two expanding businesses that have demonstrated that decade-long loyalty and collaboration are proving to be a dog’s best friend.
Inspired Pet Nutrition (IPN), the UK’s leading independent manufacturer of dry pet food, has marked a significant business milestone by celebrating its 10-year collaborative relationship with IPP, Europe’s leading pooler and producer of sustainable wooden pallets
IPN – formerly known as Wagg Foods – which owns market-leading brands such as Wagg and the fastest-growing major UK pet food brand, Harringtons, began its relationship with Coventry-based IPP in 2010 and the two businesses have expanded together ever since.
IPN opened a 100,000 sq ft distribution center (DC) near to its existing facilities at Dalton Airfield, North Yorkshire in 2016 after investing £7 million in developing a semi-automated site with the capacity to store more than 15,000 pallets.
Major investment
The investment is in addition to the £20 million the business spent on automating production in its other two existing mills over the last three years.
The investment has facilitated multiple new product launches in branded pet foods and own-brand labels for leading supermarkets and specialist pet retailers, necessitating a significant hike in pallet volumes and the introduction of Europallets into the UK market, the growth of which are expected to run into double digits.
The relationship with IPP provides continuity at a time of great change for IPN as well as a working partnership to help drive further efficiencies.
Inspired Pet Nutrition’s logistics manager, Andy Carver, said: “While we produce the highest quality pet food products at a competitive price through constant improvement in manufacturing processes and product innovation, we need to work with a logistics partner that can facilitate that drive and the growth of our business.
“IPP has been a great partner to IPN over the last 10 years and we continue to work well together in driving greater efficiencies in our supply chain and waste reduction.”
Partnership
Phil Storer, UK and Ireland director at IPP, said: “You only have to see the levels of innovation and growth at IPN to understand the UK’s ongoing love affair with animals and it’s extremely pleasing to be part of that upward trajectory.
“We are also excited to be working closely with IPN on a number of interesting new collaborations that will take the relationship onto the next level.”
For more information on IPN, visit www.ipn.co.uk.