Founded by a seafood industry veteran in Grimsby, U.K. Skipper's Pet Products has found success in using fish byproducts to create pet treats.
The company, which was founded in 2013, enjoyed a 500 percent increase in its sales over the past year as the result of pet ownership surging during the Covid-19 pandemic. After securing an investment package worth GBP 150,000 (USD 191,000, EUR 175,000), Skipper’s Pet Products has moved into a larger facility and upped its headcount from eight to 20 employees.
“I’ve worked in Grimsby’s fish industry since I was just 17 years old, and I recognized that when fish is prepared for human consumption, there can be large parts that simply go to waste,” Skipper’s Pet Products Founder Steve Moore told Business Live. “The natural omega-3s found in fish can even help dogs suffering from inflamed joints and even arthritis, so I felt the business offered a golden opportunity to reduce the amount of waste being produced within the fishing industry, as well as improving the health and welfare of much-loved family pets.”
The company has expanded its offerings from its fish-skin twists, cubs, and fingers, to fish skin jerky, grain-free dog food, raw dog food, and oils and supplements. It has also broadened into exports, initiating sales into Canada and Hong Kong. It hopes for further products expansion and capacity as a result of its move to its new location in Grimsby’s South Humberside Industrial Estate.
“Having firmly established ourselves as a market leader in our industry, we knew that it was important to cement this position,” Moore said. “This meant increasing capacity to meet demand from both the home and overseas markets. Pet ownership during the Covid-19 pandemic increased dramatically, and having seen the business grow so quickly during the past two years, we felt it was imperative to act quickly.”
Tim Daniels, the senior business lending manager at Finance For Enterprise, a nonprofit with the goal of helping small businesses thrive in the North East Lincolnshire region of England, said his organization hoped to see Skipper’s Pet Products achieve continued success.
“Skipper’s Pet Products is a great example of a business that has built on the heritage of Grimsby by finding new and innovative ways of bringing new products to market. The business has a bright future ahead of it, not just by achieving growth in the UK, but also tapping into new international markets,” Daniels said. “Steve is a person who is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about Grimsby’s fishing industry, and the innovative work he has pioneered is helping dog owners to reward their pets with naturally produced treats that can help to keep them fit and healthy.”
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, part of the British Business Bank, operates Finance for Enterprise. British Business Bank Regional Funds Director Keira Shepperson said the fund was proud to support a business bringing innovation to Grimsby’s storied seafood industry.
“By supporting businesses like Skipper’s with the funds to recruit new staff and move to larger premises, NPIF is one step closer to creating a more prosperous regional economy for the future,” Shepperson said. "Skipper’s is a great example of northern creativity, finding a unique product that brings specialist fish products to the pet foods industry. As the business looks beyond the UK’s borders to expand, we’re looking forward to celebrating the milestones the team achieves in the future.”
Photo courtesy of Skipper’s Pet Products
