Henrietta Morrison, CEO of Lily's Kitchen, established the company in 2008. She named it after her Border Terrier Lily, which suffered from a skin allergy and refused to eat her normal dog food. After consulting her brother, a vet, who analysed the contents of the food, she was shocked by the results and began cooking special dishes for Lily, who fully recovered within a couple of weeks. Morrison spent two years working together with a range of vets and nutritionists to create her own food containing wholesome, natural ingredients along with high-quality vitamins and minerals.
Rapid rise
Morrison had no idea then that within a few years her range of natural foods would become the UK's fastest-growing pet food brand, featuring in the Virgin Fast Track 100 for the second year running in 2016. Lily's Kitchen grew from a one-woman operation into a company employing more than 50 people with retail sales to the value of 25 million pounds. Based in the London suburb of Hampstead, the company became the first-ever pet food company to receive the Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation in 2015.
The mission of Lily's Kitchen from the outset has been to produce and launch grain-free and meal-free food that uses 100 per cent freshly prepared meat, fruits and vegetables in its recipes - no additives or flavourings, rendered meats, animal or vegetable derivatives, fillers or fibrous leftovers. "Our view is that all pets deserve proper food because they are family and this drives our thinking and helps us deliver some fantastic innovation," says international sales director Ben Hutton.
Awards
In 2015, the company became one of the first UK businesses to become a B Corporation, which uses the power of business to help solve social and environmental problems. Lily's Kitchen is the only company to achieve a 100 per cent score in The Ethical Good Shopping Guide. Most of the packaging used in its products is recyclable or compostable.
Lily's Kitchen also donates food to animal charities and in 2016 the company gave away over 650 000 meals to dogs and cats. This year the pet food supplier has partnered with the vet charity PDSA to support its work in providing pet health care for families who can't afford to pay private vet's fees.
Focus on sustainability
In March, B Corp certified companies worldwide celebrated their endeavours and successes for environmental sustainability. Lily’s Kitchen was one of them.
In the UK, the company's products are available…