A History of Brandy Dog Food

ES
Eva Strain

Brandy Dog Food is extremely proud to have been by your side for over 50 years – supplying the nation's pups with the fuel they need for all their canine adventures!

We have decided to give you all an exclusive sneak peek into our history as a brand - from the first days of production to the development of the iconic can!

Let’s go back to the beginning, 1972 in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Brandy’s founder - John Mackle Sr - achieved huge successes with the business. Brandy was awarded the 1977 LEDU Northern Bank Local Enterprise Trophy – in which the business was named “most outstanding small Northern Ireland firm”.

By the early 1980s, the product sales had skyrocketed from 100 to 20,000 cases, with 70% of the products being sold in the Republic of Ireland and England.

Over time, Brandy grew from strength to strength, partnering with local businesses on the island of Ireland and local grocery retailers such as Dunnes, Musgraves and many other household retailers. In 2003, Brandy had established itself as the second largest branded dog food in the country with 13% of the market share. Through this phenomenal journey, the brand and packaging changed a fair bit – more images can be found on Brandy’s Facebook and Instagram!

Did you check out our socials? What do you think of the old cans?

We have gone through many changes in the past; however, our iconic Bernese Mountain Dog has stayed consistent throughout.

As all of you may know, family is at the heart of Brandy’s values and has been since its origin. Throughout the years, our teams have pushed for success and have developed Brandy into the quality brand you know and love today!

By the early 2000s, John Mackle became Managing Director for the business, and by 2003, Brandy had 54 employees and £1.5m was invested to create a state-of-the-art factory. The top-quality machinery ensures that the highest quality products are being produced for our beloved cats and dogs.

Now, in 2024, we have over 250 employees across three sites and are constantly evolving to give our customers the best product possible. We are dedicated to making sure that good nutrition shouldn’t break the bank.

Do you know any of Brandy’s history? We’ve come a long way from the beginning, and we can’t wait for all the exciting plans for the future!

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