After selling Canon Foods and being out of the industry for several years Richard consulted to another food company and found he missed the industry and the people in it. Still having an empty food manufacturing facility that was used by Canon Foods to provide poultry products to supermarkets around Australia for many years, the food industry was researched looking for an opportunity to use the many years’ experience of Dion and Richard as well as the food manufacturing site.

The wet pet food market was investigated as many people inspected the property with the view of setting up a wet pet food business.

It was found the wet pet food industry mainly focused it's manufacturing in Queensland. The supply of markets with high quality dog rolls was focused to vets and the lower quality product was supplied through retail at a significantly lower price.

Seeing an opportunity for a new player in the retail market, Dion and Richard firstly formulated products for the Australian supermarket industry focusing significant increase in value and nutrition, hence the birth of Nutrimate.