Napthens secures major distribution centre for pet food provider

The commercial property team at Napthens solicitors has helped secure the purchase of a distribution site with more than 18,000 sq m of space for pet food giant GA Pet Food Partners.

GA Pet Food Partners is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of own label, premium dried pet food for more than 350 major retailers in 40 countries worldwide.

The business has now completed the purchase of R2 Revolution Park, Buckshaw Avenue, Buckshaw Village, with assistance from Allan Sumner, commercial property partner at Napthens solicitors.

The unit includes a warehouse and three floors of office accommodation for the business, which will operate its distribution facility from the unit. GA Pet Food Partners, which now has 300 staff, previously leased the facility, but has now purchased it for a significant, six figure sum.

It has consolidated five separate warehousing facilities into its new site, enabling the development of a specialist, fully automated warehouse facility operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The business provides services including product development, manufacturing, packaging, storage and despatch, and began manufacturing in 1992 with just five employees.

GA Pet Food Partners now manufacturers 500 different pet food products, catering for a range of pets from dogs and cats to fish and small animals. Exports now count for 25 per cent of business, and it operates a manufacturing site in Bretherton, near Leyland, and its head office in Tarleton, near Preston.

In the year to January 2012, the business turned over almost £53million with profits of £3.2million.

Allan Sumner of Napthens said: “This was a significant site which will allow GA Pet Food Partners to cement its place as one of the leaders in the pet food manufacturing sector. From its humble beginnings, GA Pet Foods is a major employer in the area, and the extra space afforded the business by the new distribution facility will give it room to grow for many years to come.”

Roger Bracewell, chairman of GA Pet Food Partners, added: “This was a unique opportunity to purchase an exceptional, modern warehouse that has enabled us to consolidate our business and provide improved levels of service for customers. “The levels of service and logistics required are changing every year, and this is a highly strategic site which combines great transport links and proximity to our existing business.”