For over twenty years now, Unipet International has been a stalwart of the Swale Business Community. Originally established in Gillingham in 1993, the company relocated to Sittingbourne in 1999 and hasn’t looked back since.
From their two-and-a-half acre site on the Trinity Trading Estate, Unipet’s 62 employees produce wild bird food and poultry treats. The business offers both a bespoke service to customers, as well as their own wild bird and chicken treat ranges, “Suet To Go” and “Hentastic”. They have customers throughout Europe and the US and their products are available through a number of high street retailers such a Wilko, Pets at Home and B&M.
Marketing Manager Dawn Robinson discussed the new developments taking place in the business: “Aside from being the only wild bird food manufacturer of suet based products to receive a BRC Grade ‘A’ accreditation; we believe that our competitive advantage lies in the fact that we are not complacent in our achievements thus far, and continue to advance our market leadership with the design and creation of quality products with a real desire to grow our brands. Over the past few years we have introduced 16 new products and have developed ‘Easy Peck Ridges’ which have been proven to help birds feed easier and faster – these ridges are a first for wild bird feed and are unique to Unipet. Having been well received amongst our consumers we have subsequently introduced four products incorporating this innovation.”
Dawn attributes a large part of the business’ success to the determination of Unipet’s employees at all levels. She commented: “Our Directors are heavily involved in the day-to-day running of the business and their enthusiasm is reflected in the staff and that team ethic can be seen for all those who visit the site. We are committed to staff training and encourage team-building activities. A large number of our staff have been with us for many years and I think that shows that we are doing something right!”
It is partly because of its workforce that Dawn feels Unipet deserves to be recognised at the 2018 awards: “To win the Swale Business Awards would not only be recognition for the company from the business community in which we live and work, but it would be recognition for our staff and all of the hard work that they have put into business - not only this year, but every year since the business started trading. Every element of the service we provide is based in-house and we therefore strive for excellence in all areas of our business from product development, manufacturing, design, packaging, sales, marketing, fulfilment and customer service. We have worked as a company to ensure that we recognise this by providing the best environment and standards that we can for our staff. Without them the company would not be in a position to enter these awards.”
Unipet International
Trinity Trading Estate
Tribune Drive
Sittingbourne
Kent
ME10 2PG
01795 476561
www.unipet.co.uk