82 | UK Enterprise Awards 2023 Best Pet Supplies Business 2023 - Worcestershire Family-run business, Blu’s Raw & Natural offers a wide range of raw, frozen foods for dogs. Based out of the family butcher shop in Stourport-on-Severn, the company is passionate about providing dog owners with nutritious foods at affordable prices. We take a look at the growing movement towards raw dog food and speak with company representative, Emma Woodhouse. As dog owners, we all want the best for our four-legged friends, and that includes their nutrition. Over recent years, many owners have moved away from feeding their animals traditional processed pet food and have gone back to nature. Raw diets for dogs have dramatically gained in popularity. Natural ingredients such as meat, bones, offal, fruit, and vegetables would form the basis of a dog’s diet if left to its own devices in the wild. Potential benefits of a raw feeding regimen include improved nutritional content and enhanced digestive health. Many processed foods contain limited ingredients and these may not provide the range of nutrients your dog needs for optimal health. Raw food diets contain high-quality protein and natural enzymes which aid digestion. The addition of raw fruit and vegetables gives a higher fibre content than their processed counterparts. Process foods often contain high levels of carbohydrates and a low moisture content which can be a contributor to weight gain and obesity. Eating fresh, raw foods with a high moisture content helps many dogs to maintain a healthy weight. Allowing your dog to chew on a raw meaty bone not only makes them happy, but it also benefits their oral hygiene and dental health. Gnawing helps to remove plaque and tartar from teeth and ensures dogs exercise their all-important jaw muscles. Many dogs suffer from allergies or are sensitive to ingredients found in processed foods such as grains, artificial additives, and some protein sources. Their owners often turn to raw food diets which allow them to have more understanding and control over what their pet eats. This can help to identify the offending allergens and alleviate the problem. Supporters of raw diets also report that their dogs have increased levels of energy and improved well-being. When the Woodhouse family acquired a new member, Blu the Great Dane, they wanted to make sure he had the best diet possible. They discovered the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food diet (BARF for short) developed by Australian veterinarian, Dr Ian Billinghurst, and so began the story of Blu’s Raw & Natural. The company prides itself on the quality of the raw food it offers to its clients. Making its products from real pure meat, Blu’s Raw & Natural’s range of products is all free from artificial preservatives, flavours and colourings, and are DEFRA approved. Emma says, “We’ve seen enormous growth in the raw pet food business over the years. We’ve continued to grow our presence in the industry and we’ve expanded into larger premises. We offer a wide range of raw frozen foods including minces, bones, chunks, wings, feet, and fish as well as a large selection of natural treats and superfoods. All our minces contain 75-80% meat, 10-15% bone, and 10% offal.” As well as trading from its premises, Blu’s Raw and Natural offers online ordering for click-and-collect. The company also provides a local delivery service using its own fleet of vehicles as well as a nationwide courier service. It’s important to make sure that a raw food diet is appropriate for your dog before changing its diet. Blu’s Raw & Natural is also on hand to provide impartial advice based on the family’s own experience of many years of raw feeding. The company recommends that dogs consume 2–3% of their ideal body weight per day – usually split between two meals unless recommended otherwise by a veterinary professional. We ask Emma to tell us about the team at Blu’s Raw and Natural. She says, “We wouldn’t be where we are today without our staff, some of whom have been with us on the journey since the beginning. Every member of the team is an individual in their own right and brings different qualities and strengths to the team as a whole. Everyone here is dedicated to exceeding expectations when it comes to both product quality and customer service.” When seeking new staff for its expanding operation, the company looks for individuals who have strength of character, a passion for the industry, and who work well as part of a team. Emma tells us, “New employees must be ready and willing to learn new skills and be reliable. We value accuracy and thoroughness, and the ability to engage with customers is a must.” As the raw food industry becomes more popular, Emma has seen a notable increase in the number of independent competitors setting up shops around the UK. Does that worry her? “No, because no one does it quite like us. The pet food business in the UK is a solid market as we Brits are well-known as a nation of pet lovers. The raw dog food market continues to increase as more people become aware of the benefits of feeding raw. Despite the recent economic downturn we’ve continued to grow and business is thriving.”
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