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Ben Skinner - Skinner's Dog Food: From Post Mill to Performance Dog Food
About this Episode
#35 What does a 300-year-old family business have to teach us about passion, quality, and preserving our gundog heritage? Ben Skinner, the seventh-generation leader of Skinner's Dog Food, takes us on a fascinating journey from his family's 1688 windmill to their current position as a beloved dog food manufacturer in the UK.
The remarkable story unfolds as Ben shares how his grandfather Stanley operated a traditional grain milling business that was facing bankruptcy when his father Roger, at just 15 years old, was pulled from school to join the struggling company. The pivotal moment came when a customer requested a ton of dog food, leading Roger to create a formula that dogs loved and offered better profit margins than their traditional products. From this humble beginning – literally driving around with bags of dog food in his car – Roger built a reputation for quality that still defines Skinner's today. Their unwavering commitment to formulation over price and direct relationships with customers has earned them devoted followers throughout the gundog community.
Beyond manufacturing dog food, Skinner's has become a cornerstone of the gundog world through their support of competitions like the International Gundog League Field Trial and their own Skinner's World Cup. This prestigious international working test attracts teams from across Europe, most recently held on the Windsor Crown Estate with permission from King Charles III. Ben shares delightful stories of royal connections, including his father accidentally placing his beer in Queen Elizabeth II's spot at lunch, highlighting the tight-knit nature of the UK gundog community.
What truly distinguishes this conversation is Ben's humility and genuine passion for both the family business and the working dog community. Despite regular buyout offers, Skinner's remains fiercely independent because, as Ben explains, "to us it's more than a business, it's a way of life." His vision for preserving gundog heritage while introducing younger generations to the sport resonates powerfully with our mission at Gundog Nation.
Ready to learn more about the fascinating intersection of history, quality nutrition, and gundog tradition? Subscribe to our podcast and join our community of people united to preserve our heritage of gundog ownership. Visit www.gundognation.net to join our email list for newsletters from trainers, vets, and breeders that will help you become a better gundog owner.
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