Winalot

Winalot is a popular brand of dog food sold in the United Kingdom and Ireland, founded in 1927.[1]

The name was first used in 1927 for dog biscuits by Spillers Ltd; they were initially marketed as a food for racing greyhounds, but soon gained popularity with domestic canines and became a brand leader in the 1930s.[2]

History

The Spillers business was acquired by Nestlé in 1998, after which the Winalot brand was expanded to include a broader range of dry foods, canned products, and dog treats.

Winalot is currently marketed by Nestlé Purina PetCare,[3] and is the UK's second biggest-selling dog food brand.[1] Their products have recently been subject to a packaging change, to modernize and refresh the brand in 2016.[4]

In 1988, composer Christopher Gunning wrote the music for a Winalot Prime television commercial. He later developed the piece into The Long March, which was recorded and released as a charity single by the Barking Light Orchestra.[5][6]

References

  1. These are the best dog food brands in the UK Yahoo! Life, October 23, 2025, retrieved November 3, 2025^
  2. Purina: Our History^
  3. Firefighters tackle Sudbury pet food factory blaze BBC News, February 15, 2015, retrieved November 3, 2025^
  4. Winalot packaging revamp^
  5. The Theme from 'The Long March' Winalot Dog Food Advert, YouTube^
  6. Richard Bratby. 'The composer of dog-food ads who also wrote one of the most original cycles of British symphonies', in The Spectator, 2 March, 2024^