Burgess – An independent company with history in Yorkshire

Yorkshire is the largest county in the United Kingdom and famous for its vast green fields and beautiful countryside. This is probably why it is also known as “God’s Own Country”. Not only is it home to the Yorkshire Pudding, Yorkshire Terriers and Birthplace of Guy Fawkes, but also Burgess Pet Care – which itself has a rather interesting history. Let’s find out more about the people who make your pets’ favourite food!

Burgess Pet Care is a British, family-owned company and one of the UK's leading pet food manufacturers – and its history goes back more than 300 years.

The origins of Burgess can be traced back to 1649 operating from the watermill at Fountains Abbey, now owned by the National Trust. By 1790 the flour milling business moved to the mill at Kirkby Fleetham, converting to steam power in the mid-19th century. In 1922, the business moved to Thornton-le-Dale on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors and this remains the Burgess HQ today, while animal feed production has been focused at Cherry Tree Mill in East Yorkshire since 1987.

A rich heritage built in the heart of Yorkshire

Burgess’ in-house vet, Dr Suzanne Moyes, who joined the business in 2013 and uses her nutritional expertise to nurture happy, healthy dogs, cats and small animals, says: “Because Burgess Pet Care began in and remains in Yorkshire, we have developed strong working relationships with the local agricultural communities over the years. With a heritage of more than 300 years of working in the agricultural and food business, we prefer to source the materials for our products locally and some of the deliveries to Cherry Tree Mill are still made by tractor!

An innovative approach to creating award-winning pet foods

Using the expertise and experience built over the centuries, Burgess produces high-quality, award-winning pet foods today – such as food specially created to support neutered cats – and has launched many innovations. These include the UK’s first single component nugget for rabbits to prevent selective feeding, and the world’s first food specifically formulated for indoor rabbits.

Dr Moyes adds: “We continually work with leaders in small animal welfare, behaviour and health to ensure we are at the forefront of small animal health and nutrition. This is why experts, from vets to rescue centres to animal behaviourists, recommend and trust our food.”

A place where the health and wellbeing of pet animals is a priority

The health and wellbeing of animals is Burgess Pet Care’s number one goal and the company’s expert knowledge in animal nutrition helps it achieve this.

Dr Moyes says: “At Burgess Pet Care, as well as making healthy, nutritious pet food, we strongly believe in responsible pet ownership. We are dedicated to improving the health and welfare of animals through research and education. We worked with the University of Edinburgh on a ground-breaking study which highlighted the risks to rabbits’ health associated with muesli style diets and selective feeding. We also invest in activities such as Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW), the UK’s biggest and best rabbit welfare campaign.”

In fact, Burgess Pet Care actively works with a number of leading organisations to help educate and raise awareness around animal welfare needs, as well as setting up initiatives to support animals in need. Recent highlights in the Burgess Pet Care timeline include:

1998 The Excel brand is born and the first single component extruded nuggets for rabbits is launched

2000s The Excel range is expanded to cater for rabbits at different life stages and the vet recommended Excel feeding plan is launched

2006 The first Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) is launched by Burgess in collaboration with leading animal charities and vet bodies to educate rabbit owners and improve rabbit welfare

2013 A University of Edinburgh study, which highlights the risks associated with muesli style diets in rabbits was concluded. As a result of the first findings of this study, Burgess stops making any muesli products for rabbits and guinea pigs. The first paper of this study was published in 2014.

2018 Burgess launches the Word’s first Indoor Rabbit Nugget, formulated with Vitamin D, dandelion and nettle to support the needs of Indoor Rabbits, based on research.

2019 Burgess launches its Greyhound & Lurcher takeover campaign, to raise awareness of rescue dogs needing homes and donates thousands of pounds worth of Burgess Supadog Greyhound and Lurcher food to rescue centres across the UK, and donates 20p from every sale to help care for these dogs

2020 Burgess launched its first ever UK Vet Awards to celebrate the challenging work and commitment of veterinary professionals and the Rabbit and Guinea Pig Facebook groups

2021 Building on the success of RAW, Burgess launches the first ever Guinea Pig Awareness Week (GPAW), endorsed by the British Veterinary Association and British Small Animal Veterinary Association. Led by Burgess Pet Care, the Rabbit Awareness Action Group (RAAG) is established, with members comprising of many leading charities such as the RSPCA, Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF), Wood Green, Blue Cross and, to continue to improve the lives of the UK’s pet rabbits.  

Burgess launches the world’s first Indoor Guinea Pig Nugget, formulated with Probiotics, Vitamin C and our Calm Formula to help Indoor Guineas get all the nutrients they would find when grazing in the wild.

2022 Burgess launches Supadog Rich in Salmon, a complete food for adult dogs. Featured on the front of the pack is Jess, a two-year-old, rescued, Staffy Cross. For every bag sold, 20p is donated to dog rescues across the UK in the form of free food. RAAG asks for all rabbit supporters to sign up to the first Good Practice Code for the Welfare of Rabbits in England.

Burgess Petcare will continue to support the welfare of all animals through knowledge, innovation and research, as well as making healthy, nutritious and tasty animal food.