Part Irish-owned fresh dog food brand Butternut Box throws open the kennels to Irish retail.
Fresh dog food company Butternut Box has made its first move into bricks‑and‑mortar retail in Ireland, launching exclusively across 35 Maxi Zoo Ireland stores nationwide.
The rollout marks a significant step for the business, which has built a large Irish customer base through its direct‑to‑consumer model, and positions the company as the first fresh dog food brand available on Irish retail shelves.
“After building such strong momentum online, launching into Irish retail is a huge milestone for us, and a particularly proud one given how important Ireland has always been to Butternut Box”
Founded by David Nolan and Dublin‑born Kevin Glynn, Butternut Box has grown into Europe’s leading fresh dog food provider, serving customers across multiple markets with freshly prepared meals delivered directly to homes. The Irish retail debut follows sustained demand from pet owners seeking greater choice and accessibility beyond home delivery.
Good food for woof times
The partnership with Maxi Zoo Ireland brings a selection of Butternut Box’s most popular recipes into stores, including Pork This Way, Salmon To Love, Chicken You Out and Gobble Gobble Turkey. Products will be available in convenient 400g single‑serve pouches, as well as variety boxes designed to offer dogs a broader range of meals.
The retail launch reflects a broader shift in how Irish pet owners approach dog nutrition. Fresh feeding has steadily gained traction as pet parents pay closer attention to ingredient quality, sourcing and transparency.
Butternut Box’s meals are made using human‑quality meat and vegetables, gently cooked and nutritionally complete, with recipes tailored to dogs of different ages and needs.
“After building such strong momentum online, launching into Irish retail is a huge milestone for us, and a particularly proud one given how important Ireland has always been to Butternut Box,” said Butternut Box co-founder Kevin Glynn.
“We’ve seen first-hand the appetite among Irish pet parents for better, fresher nutrition. Partnering with Maxi Zoo allows us to make our meals even more accessible, while staying true to our mission of helping dogs live healthier, happier lives.”
Maxi Zoo said the exclusive partnership aligns with its focus on quality and wellbeing.
“We’re delighted to be the exclusive retail partner for Butternut Box in Ireland, bringing their industry-leading, fresh-cooked nutrition to Maxi Zoo stores across Ireland,” said Enrica de Luca, head of commercial at Maxi Zoo Ireland.
“This further solidifies our commitment to providing pet parents with the very best in quality, health and wellbeing.”
Butternut Box was inspired by a personal experience. The founders developed the meals after seeing improvements in the health of a rescue dog that was fed home‑cooked food. That insight led them to develop a scalable alternative to traditional dog food, combining convenience with simple recipes and clear labelling.
According to company research, 84% of customers reported improvements in their dog’s health after switching to fresh food, with commonly cited benefits including better digestion, shinier coats and higher energy levels.
Butternut Box also points to wider industry research showing that nearly half of dog owners can name only three ingredients in their pet’s food, highlighting the role transparency plays in purchasing decisions.
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