A DOG food company based in Bromham, which appeared on Dragons’ Den, has been named start-up business of the year at the Business Leader Awards.

Poppy’s Picnic meals for dogs are handmade by fourth generation Wiltshire butchers, and only include the best human-grade British ingredients.

Since appearing on BBC Dragons’ Den, where founder Dylan Watkins and director, Louise Mackintosh were offered four investment opportunities, the company has won Business Start-up of the Year, while also being nominated in the Outstanding Excellence Award category, at the 2018 Wiltshire Business Awards.

Since politely declining investment opportunities from the Dragons, including a £60,000 investment from Deborah Meaden, Poppy’s Picnic has successfully overfunded to raise £600,000 through crowd funding

Three of their products also made the finals of the PetQuip Awards in the Pet Product of the Year category, beating off competition from hundreds of other entries and receiving Highly Commended recognition from the judges.

Celebrating the achievements of companies and the people who run them across the South West, the Business Leader Awards received more than 200 high calibre entries this year and competition to become a finalist was fierce.

All the judges, who are major players in the world of business and finance, unanimously voted for Poppy’s Picnic to win the award.

Louise Mackintosh was on hand to receive the award from comedian Russell Kane at a glittering gala dinner held at Ashton Court, Bristol.

Founder Dylan Watkins said: “Our aim from the start has been to make it easier for more people to feed fresh.

“Much like humans should eat fresh food and avoid a processed diet to ward off obesity and disease, the same applies to our four-legged friends.”