The Melton factory opened in 1951. The pet food subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated (Mars Petcare) began research into pet nutrition in the early 1950s, formally founding a Nutrition Research Unit in 1965. Originally the institute was housed at a nearby location but was moved to an old stud farm at Waltham-on-the-Wolds in 1973. It opened in March 1973, known as the Animal Studies Department. The site opened a dog kennel block in 1975. The site was damaged by high winds in the
Gale of January 1976 in early January 1976. By 1977 it was known as their Animal Studies Centre. In February 1984 Pedigree Chum received a Royal Warrant, for feeding the Queen's corgis. A puppy unit was built in 1984. An Aqualab had opened by the 1990s, for pet fish. A new electrical substation was built in 1996.In 1996 the
Advertising Standards Authority told Petfoods to change one of their television adverts, as it claimed that their products could help animals to see in the dark. Since 2001, a non-charitable organisation called the Waltham Foundation has funded a number of humane scientific research projects dedicated to furthering the health and nutrition of companion animals. By 2002 it was attracting the interest of PETA, an animal rights organisation for research on anti-oxidants conducted alongside the
University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. An August 2019 documentary on
Channel 4 made by Whitworth Media featured the site.
National offices In 1979 many office functions were moved away from the Melton site, to Waltham, to allow more manufacturing at the Melton site. A new national office was planned to be built at the Waltham site. Melton Borough Council allowed this planning in early November 1978. It had been seen as a controversial planning application, but it had no difficulty being passed by the Melton council planning department. In 1979 it was seen as controversial, and some councillors would resign if the planning application was passed. Waltham local councillor Harry Hunt resigned in protest when the council allowed the national offices to be built at Waltham; he was quite angry. Local councillors were suspicious that the
Melton Borough Council deeply wanted the continued financial patronage of the Mars company in the local area, possibly at any cost or extremity. The Mars company were known to have a long history of financial generosity to many local organisations, such as youth groups. The planning decision was referred to the Local Ombudsman. The new £2.4m national offices were built by
R M Douglas, of Birmingham, from late 1979. The national offices would open in 1981. It was completed in December 1980, with a large car park and cafeteria. It opened on Monday 5 January 1981. At the time, the company had 60% of the UK petfood production. The new site also housed the Pedigree Petfoods Education Centre. ==Visits==