Marleybones has raised £2.5m to raise awareness for the fresh dogfood brand.
It followed a £1m seed funding round last year led by JamJar Investments as the business aimed to expand retail distribution of its pantry fresh meals.
The latest round was led by TAW Ventures, the investment firm founded by Estée Lauder heiress Jane Lauder dedicated to advancing pet health, with follow-on investment from JamJar, Active Partners and Animal Health Angels.
Marleybones plans to use the capital to expand its marketing, customer experience retail operations and increase brand awareness through PR, events and influencer activity.
Josephine Bager and Mikala Skov launched Marleybones in 2020 with a mission to “redefine dogfood”.
“We’ve built strong traction across DTC and retail, expanded into supplements and proven category demand with triple-digit growth,” Skov said.
“With TAW Ventures and JamJar by our side, we’re ready to accelerate our journey to make ’pantry fresh’ a household standard.
Bager added: “Dog parents shouldn’t have to choose between quality and convenience. With pantry fresh meals, we’ve proven it’s possible to achieve both. This funding allows us to reach even more pet parents and further define fresh food for dogs.”
Marleybones’ pantry fresh meals are slow-cooked, “nutritionally complete”, and packed in recyclable TetraPak cartons. Alongside its main meal range, the brand also sells vet-developed supplements, omega oil and air-dried treats.
The business has recorded growth of more than 200% since its previous funding round in April 2024. At the time of the seed round, Marleybones said its annual sales had hit £1m through DTC.
It has since expanded retail presence to Pets at Home, Co-op and Ocado, and grown partnerships with Waitrose and Whole Foods Market.
Jane Lauder said: “TAW Ventures was inspired by my dog, Thaddeus, and driven by a shared commitment to advancing pet health, wellness and longevity. Josephine and Mikala are redefining what dogs deserve at mealtime, and we’re thrilled to partner with them as they continue transforming dog dining across the UK.”
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