Judge’s Choice Petfood has been granted the King’s Royal Warrant for the supply of pet food to the Royal Household.
The firm is one of only a few companies to receive the prestigious recognition, which is awarded to only those companies that deliver products and service of exceptional standards.
The family firm was founded by James Chester in 1991, and he was granted the company’s first Royal Warrant in 1996. Royal warrants need to be renewed every five years, and the company was asked to reapply following the death of the Queen in 2022 to an even more exacting standard demanded by King Charles.
The application turned out to be lengthy and complex, and the company had to give evidence of the provenance of its ingredients and the sustainability of its methods, including invoking an academic study into the impact on the environment of dog ownership.
The company was originally founded in Norfolk but now trades from a base in West Sussex and has both trade and direct customers. Judge’s Choice markets two main brands – Country Pursuit, which is primarily for active and working dogs, and Nature’s Harvest, which is more of a lifestyle brand for small and mid-sized dogs. The company also has a cold-pressed range.
Chief executive Chieko Chester told PBW News: “It is a very prestigious accolade for us. We are only a small company and it is a great way for us to be recognised.
“We always give a very personal service, and interact closely with our customers. We have a website for ordering but a lot of our customers still phone up just to have a chat. We are authentic in the way that we do business.”
