Mel Stride MP was given a tour of Forthglade’s new factory on the Okehampton Business Park today which he hopes can bring further employment opportunities to his constituency. The pet food manufacturer opened their new £8million 70,000ft² factory in November 2018 after five years of planning. The company is doing well thanks to an increase in dog lovers wanting to buy higher quality food for their pets made with natural ingredients. Mr Stride heard how the company’s eco-credentials play a key role in its philosophy with the factory recycling water, using recyclable white trays and sleeves and using excess steam from the production process to heat its offices. Forthglade is aiming to become the UK’s leading natural pet food manufacturer and is set to increase the already 130-strong local production team to 150 staff over the next few years.
After meeting with Managing Director Gerard Lovell Mel said:
“It was really good to meet Gerard and his team and to see such an important local employer doing well and looking to grow their workforce further. It was also very interesting to see how the business is using a variety of recycling methods to reduce its carbon footprint as well as to learn more about the animal welfare issues they promote.”
Forthglade products are sold in major supermarkets including Waitrose, Sainsburys, Morrison’s and Tesco, online and exported oversees to 11 countries, including Spain, Italy, Finland, South Korea and Kuwait.
