Season 2, Episode 1: William Bisset

In this episode of *Meet the Animal People*, Chris is joined by Will Bisset, Founder of Scamp & Paw and one of the pet industry’s most original and forward-thinking innovators. Will shares his fascinating journey from growing up surrounded by wildlife in Africa to finding his way into the pet industry through Pets Corner. He talks about his early experience in pet retail and nutrition, before going on to help develop the UK’s first insect-based cat and dog food and building an incredibly varied career within alternative proteins and sustainable pet food. Chris and Will also explore the story behind Scamp & Paw a pioneering new pet food made using traceable Norway lobster that would otherwise go to waste. Will explains where the idea came from, why pet health and enjoyment must always come first, and how customers can trace the lobster in each bag back to the fishing boat that caught it. The episode also dives into whether the UK pet industry is truly innovative, the challenges facing new brands trying to break into retail, and why sustainability needs to feel accessible rather than judgemental. Will shares brilliant insight into building diverse teams, bringing talent into the pet industry from other sectors, and why the best founders surround themselves with people who are better than them. It’s a funny, refreshingly honest and thought-provoking conversation about pet food, innovation, sustainability, career happiness and the unconventional paths that can lead us to exactly where we’re meant to be. If you love hearing from the people challenging convention and creating something genuinely different in the pet world, this episode is well worth a listen.