Skip to Content

Our story

It started in a shed
in 1988.

Browne's Animal Feeds is a family business, now in its second generation, run from the yard in Clonminam Industrial Estate, Portlaoise. This is how we got here, in Cathal's own words.

@brownesanimalfeed3 Humble beginnings at Browne's Animal Feeds Portlaoise. Keep on trucking. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years.

Cathal, filmed at the original shed in September 2025. Watched over 18,000 times on TikTok.

In Cathal's words

Humble beginnings.

My father moved up from Kerry for a job and met my mother back in 1988. He was into the greyhounds and couldn't find dog food anywhere, and he didn't want to pay full price for his own. So he started buying a pallet and selling some of it on. That's where it started, in these sheds.
The lorry would reverse up to the house and all the neighbours and cousins would unload it by hand. Every bag.
We moved into Portlaoise around the year 2000. My mother took the reins and kept the show on the road. My father's job was fairly flexible, so he was around a good bit, to be fair.
He retired about seventeen years ago. We took the front unit, eventually the back unit, then the yard, bit by bit. Growing and growing.
Now I'm here, trying to take the reins the best I can. I have to thank the people of Portlaoise and the surrounding areas for keeping us on the road. And I won't be getting rid of the father any time soon. He's always here.

Lightly tidied from the video. The story is his.

Since 1988

From one pallet to a full yard.

1988
The shed
Dad moves up from Kerry for a job, meets Mam, and can't find dog food for the greyhounds. He buys a pallet and sells some on.
1990s
Lorries by hand
The lorry reverses up to the house. Neighbours and cousins unload every bag by hand.
2000
Into Portlaoise
The business moves to Clonminam. Mam takes the reins and keeps the show on the road.
2008
The front unit
Dad retires. The family takes the front unit, then the back unit, then the yard, bit by bit.
Today
Cathal at the counter
Second generation, same counter. Boots, workwear and pet supplies now ship anywhere in Ireland.
Cathal Browne at Browne's Animal Feeds, Portlaoise

What hasn't changed

Same counter. Same straight answers.

The yard is bigger and the shop is online now, but it still works the way it did at the shed. You deal with the family, you get told what's on the next lorry, and nobody is too small an order.

  • No minimum order. Forty bags for a dairy farm or one tin of dog food, same price list, same counter.
  • Ask us anything. Feed rations, boot sizing, what day the lorry lands. If we don't know, we'll find out.
  • We'll load you up. Pull into the yard and it goes into the jeep or trailer for you. Boots, workwear and pet supplies can be delivered anywhere in Ireland.

Come in and see us

Thanks to everyone who has kept us on the road.

Telfords Yard, Clonminam Industrial Estate, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32 WIXE. Ring ahead on a big order and we'll have it stacked and ready when you pull in.

Opening hours
Monday – Friday8:45am – 5:30pm
Saturday8:45am – 4:30pm
SundayClosed
Call 057 867 2980 Open in Google Maps