“Nilz & Harley “ began with one dog who changed our lives.

We're a family run business based in Barwell, Leicestershire. I'm Nilz, this is my wife Helen, and Harley our Golden Retriever. He is the inspiration behind everything we do.

Helen and I have been animal lovers and pet owners our entire lives. To us, pets aren't just animals, they're family. We brought Harley home when he was just nine weeks old, and from day one he became my constant companion.

Harley came into my life while I was recovering from a serious illness. At the time, I was told I wouldn't be able to return to the career I'd built, and I honestly wasn't sure what the future looked like.

Then we brought home this little bundle of fluff.

From day one, Harley gave me something far more important to focus on than the job I'd lost. Looking after him helped my recovery, gave me purpose, and completely changed my outlook on life.

As he grew older, we discovered he struggled with separation anxiety. Seeing how much stress it caused him made me realise just how important it is for dogs to feel safe, understood and cared for. Anxiety is a real emotion, and watching Harley struggle with it was heartbreaking. If there was a way I could avoid putting him through that, why wouldn't I?

If I could build a life where Harley felt happier and more secure, then that's exactly what I wanted to do—and exactly what Helen and I did. It inspired us to build a business where Harley could be by our side every day, rather than left behind.

Looking back, it was the best decision we ever made.

In 2015, I became a Pet Nutritionist for Swedish pet food company Husse. That experience naturally led us to open our Home Boarding and Doggie Daycare services, offering a genuine home-from-home environment for dogs.

One question came up time and time again from our customers: "What's the best food to feed my dog?" It was quickly followed by questions about healthy treats, long-lasting chews and natural alternatives. We realised there was a real need for trustworthy, high-quality products that pet owners could feel confident buying.

That search became the foundation of our Natural Deli.

The Natural Deli is an extension of everything we believe in. We're becoming more conscious of what we eat and where our food comes from, so why shouldn't we think the same way about what we feed our pets?

That's why we've carefully chosen our products from suppliers we trust, focusing on quality, nutrition and products that dogs genuinely love. Many of these treats are made from parts of the animal that people don't typically eat, meaning they're put to good use rather than going to waste. It's a more natural and sustainable approach that makes sense to us.

Every order is picked and packed fresh, just for you. We don't pre-pack our treats, so everything is made to order, ensuring your pet receives the freshest products possible.

At the end of the day, if we wouldn't happily give it to Harley, we simply wouldn't sell it.