FARM FOOD | The Netherlands
Farm Food is a family-owned business run by Gerrit de Weerd and his wife. With a team of 22 people, including their two sons, their mission is to get the Farm Food brand and its natural products to a leading position in the Netherlands, Europe and beyond.
The same food source
In 1982, Gerrit de Weerd became involved in developing a dog food that was intended to serve as a neutral test food. This was a cold-pressed pellet without any additives such as colourings, aromas and antioxidants. The food needed to be suitable for dogs of all ages and conditions. As in the wild, all members of the dog family, from puppy to senior, eat as much as they need of the same food source. When the test was finished in 1984, a number of breeders wanted to continue using this ‘all-life-stage’ food, because of its excellent results. So it was decided to market the dog food on a small scale under the name of Farm Food HE.
Dogs first
After 1984, continuous product development and the introduction of new products led to constant growth. The company has grown significantly over the last decade – yearly growth of over 20% in turnover is no exception. About 25% of the company’s revenue comes from exports. Farm Food hopes to expand its export share to 50% within the next few years, together with existing and new partners who share the same company values. The company continues to adhere to its motto of ‘dogs first’ but also puts a high value on corporate social responsibility. Gerrit and his employees collaborate closely with colleagues working in a sheltered workplace.
Product milestones:
1982 Pure, cold-pressed dog food.
1984 The Farm Food ‘High Energy’ brand was launched.
1996 Rawhide was launched on the European market.
2005 A patented puppy/kitten milk powder based on goat’s milk was introduced.
2008 Fresh, deep-frozen complete food for dogs was introduced.
2011 Simple but irresistible Trainer treats based on beef heart were launched on the market.
2012 The company became one of the leading suppliers of chews for dogs based on deer antlers.
2017 Introduction of a steamed complete fresh-meat meal.