Bootle pet food firm expands into huge new factory 2026

Key Points

• Mersey Raw, a Bootle-based raw pet food business, has completed its biggest expansion since launching in 2022.
• The company has moved into a 29,000 sq ft manufacturing facility at the former Lockwoods factory on Bridle Way, Bootle.
• The relocation replaces a previous 2,300 sq ft production unit.
• More than £100,000 has been invested to transform the site.
• The upgrade includes repairs, infrastructure work, new equipment, redevelopment of the shop, office and communal areas, and a high-output fulfilment space.
• Daily output has risen from around 1.2 tonnes, or 2,400 meals, to around 2.5 tonnes, or 5,000 meals.
• The company says production is still rising week by week, with peak days now exceeding three tonnes, or more than 6,000 meals.
• Mersey Raw has added four new roles focused on growth, marketing and brand awareness.
• The site offers room for further expansion as demand continues to grow.
• The story was reported by Tony McDonough of Liverpool Business News and also covered by The Business Desk.

Bootle (Liverpool standard) July 29, 2026 – uk/local/bootle/">Bootle-based pet food firm Mersey Raw has completed its largest expansion to date after moving into a 29,000 sq ft manufacturing facility, a move that has more than doubled its production footprint and significantly increased output capacity, according to Tony McDonough of Liverpool Business News and The Business Desk. The relocation to the former Lockwoods factory on Bridle Way comes after the company had previously operated from a 2,300 sq ft production unit, and the business says the move will support future growth, new products and wider market development.

How big is the new site?

As reported by Tony McDonough of Liverpool Business News, Mersey Raw has taken over a 29,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Bootle, which is a major step up from its former 2,300 sq ft unit. The company has described the move as the biggest expansion in its history, and the larger premises now provide space not only for production, but also for fulfilment, retail and office functions.

The site is the former Lockwoods factory on Bridle Way. The Business Desk reported that the building was historically a meat-production site, which makes it a fitting location for a raw pet food maker that is focused on fresh, natural ingredients.

What has Mersey Raw spent on the move?

According to Liverpool Business News, Mersey Raw has invested more than £100,000 in transforming the premises. That money has gone into extensive repairs, facility upgrades, new equipment and redevelopment works throughout the building.

The work included overhauling core infrastructure, reopening a previously unused production area, redeveloping the on-site shop, upgrading office and communal facilities, and creating a high-output fulfilment area. These changes were aimed at supporting both immediate production needs and longer-term growth.

How much has production increased?

The company’s production figures show how quickly the expansion has changed its output. Before the move, Mersey Raw was producing about 1.2 tonnes of product a day, which the reports say was equivalent to around 2,400 meals.

Since relocating, average production has risen to about 2.5 tonnes a day, or roughly 5,000 meals. The Business Desk also reported that production is still increasing week by week, and that the firm has already recorded days when output exceeded three tonnes, or more than 6,000 meals.

That rise matters because it shows the company is not just expanding its premises, but also scaling to meet actual demand from pet owners.

Why is the company expanding now?

The central reason for the move is demand. According to Liverpool Business News, the business has been growing quickly since its launch in 2022, and founder Ben McIntyre said the company had reached the point where it needed a facility capable of supporting its ambitions for the future.

As reported by Tony McDonough, McIntyre said:

“Taking on a facility of this size is a huge milestone for the business and a reflection of how far we’ve come in a relatively short space of time.”

He added that demand had continued to rise year after year, and that the company had invested heavily in the site because it believed in what it was building and the opportunities the move creates. The report also said the expansion is intended to help the firm develop new products, enter new markets and continue growing in Bootle.

What jobs has the move created?

The relocation has already led to hiring. Liverpool Business News reported that Mersey Raw has expanded its team and created four new roles.

Those positions are focused on growth, marketing and brand awareness, which suggests the company is not only strengthening production but also trying to build its customer base and raise its profile. The additional staffing also indicates that the firm is preparing for a more complex operation as output rises.

What does the founder’s story add?

The Liverpool Business News report says the company’s roots lie in a personal loss. It stated that Ben McIntyre was devastated when his dog Jake died of liver failure, and that this pushed him to question highly processed diets commonly promoted in the mainstream pet food industry.

The report said McIntyre began researching what dogs are biologically designed to eat and started producing raw dog food. He initially worked from a small café kitchen, using fresh natural ingredients without fillers or additives. That background helps explain why the business has positioned itself around raw feeding and ingredient quality.

How does this fit wider pet food growth?

Mersey Raw’s expansion sits within a broader pattern of investment in pet food manufacturing, although this particular report focuses on one business in Bootle. The scale of the move, the increase in output and the hiring of new staff all suggest that demand for specialist pet food remains strong enough to justify serious capacity expansion.

The reports do not provide wider market statistics, so it would be inaccurate to overstate the trend beyond what is directly covered. What is clear is that Mersey Raw believes it has enough demand to justify a much larger production base and enough room to keep growing from the new site.

What background explains this development?

Mersey Raw was founded in 2022 by Liverpool engineer Ben McIntyre. The company began on a small scale and, according to Liverpool Business News, originally operated from much smaller premises before outgrowing them.

The business’s move into the former Lockwoods factory is part of a wider shift from start-up-style production to a more established manufacturing operation. The site’s history as a meat-production facility also means the building already had some characteristics suited to food production, even though substantial investment was still needed to bring it back into use.

What could happen next?

If Mersey Raw continues to grow at its current pace, Bootle could see further investment in the site, more jobs and a wider product range from the business. The new premises appear to give the company capacity to keep scaling without needing another immediate move.

For pet owners, the likely effect is improved availability and potentially a broader range of products from a local supplier. For the local economy, the expansion may support additional employment and strengthen Bootle’s role in light manufacturing and food production.