A THIRSK-based pet food business is celebrating a bumper 2019 which has seen it smash the £100 million sales barrier.

All 266 employees at Inspired Pet Nutrition had several good reasons to celebrate as the Yorkshire based business achieved three key milestones in the last year.

The firm, which has manufacturing facilities in Thirsk and North Wales, achieved record sales for the month of November at £11 million, including the highest ever weekly sales of £2.4 million.

Further, on a 12-month rolling basis, sales have now broken through the £100 million barrier.

Richard Page, managing director of Inspired Pet Nutrition, said: “I want to thank the whole IPN team who have worked so hard to achieve these tremendous results, giving us all an excellent reason to celebrate.

"The continued growth of the business is being driven by strong sales of our branded and own label ranges in the supermarkets as well as through outlets such as Pets at Home, underpinned by significant improvements in factory and production efficiencies.”

The previous year the business, which is known for the Wagg and Harringtons brands, embarked upon a £1.5m spending plan to boost production equipment in a bid to meet rising demand.

The company began in 1923 as Page Feeds to supply the farming community.

Formerly known as Wagg Foods, it brands itself as the UK’s largest independent dry food producer, supplying pet meals and treats.