A Liverpool entrepreneur has transformed a period of personal loss into one of the fastest-growing raw dog food brands in the UK.
Ben McIntyre, the 30-year-old founder and CEO of Mersey Raw, launched the business in 2022 following the death of his dog Jake from liver failure.
The experience led the former engineer to question the highly processed diets typically found in the mainstream pet food industry.
Driven by a desire to find a better way, Ben began researching the biological dietary needs of dogs and started producing raw meals himself.
What began in a small café kitchen has rapidly evolved into a multi-seven-figure Liverpool business that produces more than 80,000 meals every month.
Challenging the Mainstream Pet Industry
Mersey Raw serves over 2,000 regular customers and supplies more than 70 independent pet retailers nationwide.
Since its inception, the brand has shipped over 55,000 direct-to-consumer orders, meaning it is estimated to have fed more than 50,000 individual dogs across the UK.
The company produces all of its food in-house using 100% natural ingredients.
While traditional dry kibble diets can contain as little as 4% meat, Mersey Raw products maintain a minimum 80% meat content.
These raw minces are made using fresh frozen ingredients without the fillers, additives, or artificial ingredients often found in heavily processed alternatives.
Rapid Growth from Bootle to National Retailers
The scale of the operation has changed dramatically since the early days when Ben sourced ingredients from local farm shops and butchers.
Initially, production was limited to 100kg per product at a time.
Today, the business produces 19 different raw food lines and holds around 40 tonnes of raw materials and finished goods to meet surging demand.
Ben McIntyre, who grew up in Bootle, reflected on his journey from engineering to the pet food sector.
“I left engineering because I felt like there had to be a better way to build something that actually mattered.
“Losing my dog Jake completely changed how I looked at the pet food industry.
“When you start researching what goes into a lot of mainstream dog food, it’s shocking.
“I knew there had to be a better option for owners who want to give their dogs the best possible nutrition.”
The business has moved through several premises to keep up with its rapid rise and now operates with a dedicated team of 12 employees.
Despite the fast growth, the core objective remains centred on animal health and accessible nutrition.
Ben continued:
“What started as a personal mission has grown far beyond anything I imagined.
“Seeing the results customers get with their dogs, whether it’s improved health, energy or quality of life, is what keeps driving us forward.
“Our goal is simple: to change how people feed their dogs and make raw feeding accessible to more owners across the UK.”
With a 4.8 Trustpilot rating and a loyal national customer base, the Bootle-born brand is proving that there is a significant appetite for natural, biologically appropriate pet nutrition.
