Mackle Petfoods

What Mackle Petfoods does

Mackle Petfoods (legal entity: John Mackle (Moy) Ltd) is a family-owned pet food manufacturer founded in 1972 and headquartered in Moy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, with a second manufacturing and packaging site in Moygashel. The company produces wet, dry, and freeze-dried pet food for dogs and cats under a portfolio of owned brands — Brandy Dog Food (heritage Irish wet dog food, launched 1972), Cat Club Cat Food (wet cat food in cans and pouches, launched 1998/1999), Naturo (premium natural pet food launched 2011/2013, including the Chef's Selection superfood range), Jessie, and Norsh (freeze-dried), as well as private-label manufacturing for retailers.

The company's underlying technology centres on three manufacturing sites in Co. Tyrone, automated by a £2 million CAMA packaging line that quadruples production output, a third high-speed automated pot filling line, and BRCGS A+ certified processes. It claims an industry first in including apple cider vinegar in pet food formulations and a focus on 100% natural ingredients with full farm-to-bowl traceability using locally sourced Irish meat. Annual production exceeds 30 million units for the Naturo brand alone, and the £5.7 million expansion plan targets a doubling of group turnover.

Commercially, Mackle operates a B2B sales-led model, selling wholesale to major UK and Irish grocery multiples (Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, SuperValu, Dunnes), wholesalers, and pet specialists. Distribution extends to 19 countries via in-house direct supply and third-party partners (including Avafina Petfoods in Canada), with European markets served through established distributors in Portugal, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Croatia, and Greece. Standard terms are net 30 days from invoice date with pricing set at the despatch date. The group employs 200+ staff and has secured multiple Invest NI grant rounds (£3m in 2018, £599k in 2020) alongside self-funded capex to scale capacity.

Name

Mackle Petfoods

Legal name

John Mackle (Moy) Ltd

Website

https://macklepetfoods.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Mackle Petfoods is a family-owned Northern Ireland pet food manufacturer founded in 1972, producing wet, dry, and freeze-dried food for dogs and cats under the Brandy, Cat Club, and Naturo brands plus private label, sold wholesale to major UK and Irish retailers and exported to 19 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pet Food Manufacturing

NAICS

Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing (311111), Animal Food Manufacturing (3111)

SIC

Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)

akta.pro primary industry

Wet/Canned & Pouch Food (Dog & Cat) (CRADAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wet & Canned Pet Food (AFADAFAB), Frozen & Raw Pet Food (incl. freeze-dried) (CRADAFAD), Freeze-Dried & Dehydrated Pet Food (AFADAFAD), Custom & Private-Label Pet Food Manufacturing (AFADAFAO)

Keywords

• Pet food manufacturing
• Wet pet food
• Natural pet nutrition
• Private label petfood
• Cat and dog food

Headquarters

HQ city

Moy

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pet Food Product Sales: Manufacturing and selling wet, dry, and freeze-dried pet food products under owned brands (Brandy, Cat Club, Naturo, Jessie, Norsh) and private label. Revenue from cans, trays, and pouches sold to retailers and wholesalers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mackle Petfoods manufactures and sells wet, dry, and freeze-dried pet food for dogs and cats under owned brands (Brandy, Cat Club, Naturo, Jessie, Norsh) and through private-label arrangements. Production takes place at two manufacturing sites in Moy and Moygashel, Northern Ireland, using automated CAMA packaging and pot-filling lines. The company distributes primarily through major grocery retailers, wholesalers, pet specialists and international export partners across 19 countries.

Product overview

Mackle Petfoods is a family-owned pet food manufacturer operating from two sites in Moy and Moygashel, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, producing wet and dry pet food for dogs and cats. The company's product portfolio consists of three core brands: Brandy Dog Food (wet dog food using 100% Irish meat), Cat Club Cat Food (wet cat food in cans and pouches), and Naturo (premium natural pet food range with grain-free and superfood options). The company was founded in 1972 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, exporting to 19 countries worldwide with products available in major UK and Irish retailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Brandy Dog Food: Ireland's favourite wet dog food brand. 100% Irish meat, available nationwide. Originally launched in 1972 as the company's first product. Celebrated 50th anniversary in 2022 with limited edition cans featuring popular dog names.
• Cat Club Cat Food
• Naturo
• Jessie
• Norsh

Products and services

• Brandy Dog Food Wet dog food brand made with 100% Irish meat and full farm-to-bowl traceability; marketed as Ireland's favourite wet dog food and offered across value-tier listings in major retailers.
• Cat Club Cat Food Wet cat food brand in 395g cans and 100g pouches, made from locally sourced Irish meat with vitamins, minerals and taurine; grain-free, no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, in jelly or gravy formats.
• Naturo Premium Natural Pet Food Premium 100% natural pet food range for dogs and cats; hypoallergenic, with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, including grain-free options and a Chef's Selection range with superfood ingredients and apple cider vinegar.
• Jessie Dog Food Dog food brand in the Mackle Petfoods portfolio, referenced in 50th anniversary product listings.
• Norsh Freeze-Dried Pet Food Freeze-dried pet food brand in the Mackle Petfoods portfolio, referenced in 50th anniversary product listings.
• Private Label Pet Food Manufacturing Contract manufacturing service where Mackle Petfoods produces canned, tray and pouch pet food products under customer-owned labels for retailers and distributors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Naturo range demand increased by 41%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chest, Heart & Stroke Northern Ireland (CHSNI)coreOthers · 1 January 20252025 charity partner. Team raised £30,872.95 through fundraising activities including bake sales, spinathons, and sky dive. Funds support rehabilitation, health education, community support groups, and vital research.
• CAFRE (College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Third year supporting CAFRE Bursary (£1,500 for first-year HE students) and second year supporting CAFRE Scholarship (£2,500 + work placement for second-year students). Programme helps students gain real-world experience while businesses engage with future talent.
• Play for StraysminorOthers · 1 January 2022Northern Ireland based charity that provides service to no-kill animal shelters globally by donating toys and other items. Works alongside charitable groups assisting the homeless community with coats, harnesses, toys, and food for their animals. Mackle donated over 300 dog balls and Brandy dog food.
• Avafina PetfoodscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Canadian distribution partner for Naturo Petfoods. Works with brand ambassador Bonnie Burton who has over 30 years of experience in the pet industry. Mackle Petfoods welcomes partners to factory to learn about products and discuss future marketing strategies.
• Bonnie BurtoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Brand ambassador for Naturo on behalf of Avafina Petfoods. Member of sales team with over 30 years of experience in the Canadian pet industry.
• Multiple Animal Welfare CharitiesminorOthers · 1 January 2019Six animal welfare and rescue organizations across Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland: Limerick Feral Cats, Fairyglen (Roscommon), Animal Aid Donegal, Cats Aid Dublin, and Lucy's Trust (County Antrim). Partnership worth almost £11,000 with food donations and awareness support.
• Tourism IrelandminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership for 'Natural Beauty' competition to showcase Northern Ireland as pet-friendly destination. Competition in Great Britain and Netherlands with Rossi the Manchester spaniel winning trip to Northern Ireland.
• Stena LineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Travel partner for Natural Beauty competition winners. Provided return trip on Stena Line for competition winner.
• Blessingbourne EstateminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Pet-friendly accommodation provider. Two-night stay provided for Natural Beauty competition winner at 550-acre country estate in Co Tyrone.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Wainwright's: UK-based pet food manufacturer with mainstream and premium wet/dry ranges stocked in Tesco and other grocers. Comparable as a regional UK competitor in the same canned/kibble categories.

Broad incumbents

• Hill's Pet Nutrition: Science-led pet food brand (owned by Colgate-Palmolive) competing in the premium and therapeutic tiers, including through veterinary channels. Comparable to Naturo at the upper end of premium and therapeutic positioning.
• Affinity Petcare: Large European pet food manufacturer with wet and dry brands across Iberia and broader EU. Overlaps with Mackle's Naturo export strategy into Portugal, Spain and other Mediterranean markets.
• Nestlé Purina PetCare: Global #1 pet food business with extensive UK grocery share, premium sub-brands and broad product formats. The dominant competitor in the same retailer shelf-sets Mackle supplies into.
• Mars Petcare (incl. Royal Canin, Pedigree, Whiskas): Global pet food incumbent with omnipresent UK grocery presence across dog, cat, premium, and veterinary ranges. Sets the competitive frame Mackle must win shelf and pricing against.

Direct peers

• Lily's Kitchen: Premium natural wet and dry pet food brand with strong UK grocery listings and a natural/ingredient-led proposition. Directly comparable to Mackle's Naturo range on positioning, target consumer, and retailer presence.
• James Wellbeloved: UK natural pet food brand focused on hypoallergenic, grain-free diets with extensive supermarket listings. A natural comparison point for Mackle's premium Naturo tier in the same grocery shelf-set.
• Burns Pet Food: Welsh natural pet food brand with hypoallergenic, grain-free ranges and broad UK grocery distribution. Overlaps with Mackle's Naturo natural/hypoallergenic proposition for sensitive pets.
• Butcher's Pet Care: UK family-owned manufacturer of wet dog food and treats, sold across the same UK grocery channels (Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's). Closest direct competitor to Mackle's Brandy and Naturo wet/tray ranges due to identical category, format mix, and route-to-market.

Emerging players

• Beco Pets: UK challenger brand in natural, sustainable pet food and accessories with growing grocery and specialist distribution. Comparable as a smaller UK natural pet food peer adjacent to Mackle's Naturo proposition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MacklePetFoods
• Instagraminstagram.com/macklepetfoods
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mackle-pet-foods

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mackle Petfoods