Different Dog required finance to keep pace with demand

A fast-expanding Telford natural dog food company has secured a £1.5m loan to fit out a new state-of-the-art kitchen after tripling its revenue in the past three years.

Different Dog, founded in 2017 by couple Charlie and Alex Thurstan after concerns over the quality of ultra-processed commercial pet food, received funding through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, managed by Frontier Development Capital.

The company, which delivers freshly prepared meals to more than 20,000 dogs daily, employs around 120 staff and holds B Corp status.

Alex Thurstan said: “The new kitchen is a big step forward for us and will help us change the lives of even more dogs.”

Providing debt finance to firms across the Midlands 

Ryan Cartwright, of Frontier Development Capital, said: “Alex and Charlie have built a fantastic business with a strong and committed team. The new premises will give them a larger, more modern facility with capacity for future growth.”

The £400m Midlands Engine Investment Fund II provides debt finance from £25,000 to £2m for small and medium-sized businesses across the Midlands.