Forthglade pet food

Forthglade is a premium natural pet food brand headquartered in Devon, England. Founded in 1971 by Basil Palmer and Doug Wilkins, the company established itself as a pioneer in the natural wet dog food category, initially operating out of a small facility in Winkleigh. For decades, it served as a private label supplier before undergoing significant growth and rebranding as a consumer-facing brand.

Today, Forthglade remains committed to its British roots, manufacturing the vast majority of its products at its state-of-the-art 70,000-square-foot factory in Okehampton, Devon, which opened in late 2018. This facility allows the brand to maintain high quality control over its recipes, which are characterized by natural ingredients, high meat content, and gentle cooking methods.

Ownership of the brand has transitioned through private equity phases to support its rapid expansion. After a management buyout in 2011 and investment from Piper Private Equity in 2015, the brand was acquired in August 2020 by IK Partners (formerly IK Investment Partners), a prominent European private equity firm. Under IK Partners, Forthglade has continued to expand its presence across major UK supermarkets, specialist retailers, and digital channels.