Butternut Box
 | |
| Company type | B Corporation (certification) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Pet food |
| Founder |
|
| Headquarters | , United Kingdom |
| Website | butternutbox.com |
Butternut Box is a dog food subscription service founded in 2016.[1][2] It is based in West London[3] and currently operates across the UK and several European countries.[4]
History
[edit]David Nolan and Kevin Glynn founded the company in 2016 after Nolan's rescue dog developed persistent health issues, including itchy skin, hair loss, and digestive problems. Seeking a solution, they began preparing home-cooked meals for their dog.[1][5][6]
Nolan and Glynn started to make and deliver custom dog meals to other dog owners.[5] They began working on the business at weekends whilst working at their jobs at Goldman Sachs during the week. They then left their jobs at Goldman Sachs to start the business.[3]
By 2017, the company had sold 250,000 meals and raised one million pounds in a seed funding round led by Passion Capital.[3] Literacy Capital took an initial stake in the company in 2018 as part of a £5 million funding round.[7] The company raised a further £100m in funding from Claret Capital, Passion Capital, Whitestar Capital and HSBC.[1] In 2021, it raised £40m from backers, which it used to support growth.[6] In 2023, the company raised £275 million in a funding round led by General Atlantic, leading to a £500m pre-money valuation. In 2023, Harris Williams advised the company to raise a further £100m in capital by selling a stake in their business.[5] The firm also received backing from Bernard Arnault's L Catteron.[8]
In 2017, it moved its headquarters to premises in West London.[3]
The company attained B Corporation certification status in 2022 and established a new manufacturing facility.[1]
The company acquire the Polish brand PsiBufet in 2023.[1] The company funded a second manufacturing facility in Poland with €75 million in debt financing.[8][1] The company also unveiled an edible billboard.[9]
In 2024, the company began feeding cats with its fresh cat food brand, Marro.[8]
Products
[edit]The company delivers fresh dog food tailored to their customers' dogs' dietary requirements.[3][10] Its website gives dogs an online meal portal with the optimum food measurements.[2] Each pet has a comprehensive profile section that logs their weight, sex, eating habits, activity levels and quirks.[8] The company algorithms calculates its plans based on each dog's requirements, such as age, weight, activity levels and health conditions.[6][2]
The food is taste-tested by humans to ensure quality and flavour.[11]
Fresh dog food is made using a combination of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and fibre. It is designed to be kept in the fridge or freezer.[11][4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Kleinman, Mark (2023-09-04). "Fresh dog food provider Butternut Box has appetite for £500m valuation". Sky News. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ a b c Carter-Robb, Marie (2020-10-09). "From ball launchers to activity trackers: the new breed of pet tech". The Guardian. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ a b c d e McLoughlin, Gavin (2017-07-13). "Irishman's homemade dog food firm raises £1m in seed funding to scale up". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ a b Wedderburn, Pete (2022-04-18). "Yes, your dog can go vegan – but cats are natural born killers". The Guardian. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ a b c Harrington, Ben (2023-06-04). "It's a dog's life as pet businesses Butternut Box and PitPat win big money from investors". The Times. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ a b c Taylor, Charlie (2021-08-10). "Irish co-founded Butternut Box raises over €47m to grow dog food business". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ "Butternut Box backer in the money after selling stake". Business Post. 2023-09-17. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ a b c d "Irish co-founded Butternut Box secures €75m in debt financing". Business Post. 2025-05-20. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ Lewis, Oliver (2023-08-11). "Research shows millions of dog owners have no idea what's in their pet's food". The Independent. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ Malvern, Jack (2018-11-10). "Food fit for owners may be dog's dinner". The Times. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ a b Pinkstone, Joe (2024-07-16). "The pet food that's been taste-tested ... by humans". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2025-07-09.