Years, the Nottingham-based fresh pet-food company, has secured a growth investment from consumer investor Verlinvest and food-focused fund Five Seasons Ventures. The capital will underwrite a large facility expansion and an accelerated push into continental Europe, with distribution support from a leading UK pet-care retailer.
Key facts
The company plans to grow its production footprint from roughly 26,000 to 69,000 square feet — an increase of about 165% — to meet demand for gently cooked, human-grade meals. Years says it has served more than 12.5 million meals since launching in 2023, and the new capacity is intended to support both direct-to-consumer subscriptions and retail listings.
Fresh food keeps attracting capital
Fresh and gently cooked diets remain one of the most heavily funded niches in pet nutrition, appealing to owners willing to pay a premium for minimally processed food. The category’s challenge has always been operational: cold-chain logistics and manufacturing capacity are expensive to scale. Backing from experienced consumer investors is designed to solve exactly that constraint.
The investment also reflects the blurring line between direct-to-consumer and traditional retail. By pairing a subscription model with shelf presence through a major retailer, Years is pursuing an omnichannel path that several fresh-food challengers now see as the route to sustainable scale.
Sources
- Five Seasons Ventures — Five Seasons Ventures
- Verlinvest — Verlinvest
