INDUSTRY NEWS
PETSMART CEO RESIGNS
PetSmart’s CEO, president and board member Michael J.
Massey has decided to step down from his positions for the
Phoenix-based chain. The board of directors has accepted
his resignation, and Raymond Svider will serve as executive chairman to oversee the company’s operations with the
senior leadership team. The board has initiated a search for
Massey’s replacement.
Massey joined PetSmart as CEO when it went private in
2015 and has led the company through a critical phase of strategic transformation creating strong growth and profitability.
“On behalf of the board, we thank Michael for leading
PetSmart through a period of transformation and growth,
uniquely positioning the company to lead in the growing
pet industry and outperform in the specialty retail category,” said Svider, a managing partner at BC Partners, a capital
investment group that invested in PetSmart in 2015. “Michael
was instrumental in creating an efficient, customer-focused
retail organization and developing the company’s growth
strategy. This includes the recent acquisition of Chewy,
making PetSmart the leading brick-and-mortar and online
retailer in the industry. We respect Michael’s decision and are
grateful for his many achievements while CEO of PetSmart.”
CATCON 2017 ATTRACTS CELEBRITY CATS
AND THOUSANDS OF FELINE FANS
The third annual CatCon attracted 15,000 cat
lovers together for a weekend of feline fun in
August. Presented by Rachael Ray Nutrish,
CatCon was held at the Pasadena Convention
Center in Los Angeles. Attendees participated
in experiential activations, explored new products and fashion for both themselves and their
four-legged friends, and met with some of the
most famous internet cats in the world.
More than 150 cats and kittens were adopted in the 4,000-square-foot adoption lounge
created by Nutrish, with cats provided by Pasadena Humane and SPCA.
The first CatCon Awards were also held,
which recognized winners in five different categories, including Biggest Newcomer, which
was won by Sir Thomas Trueheart of Milo’s
Sanctuary. Actor Ian Somerhalder presented
the Advocate of the Year Award to “Kitten
Lady” Hannah Shaw, who has dedicated her
life to helping neo-natal kittens.
Celebrities—both human and feline—
attended the event, including actor Gilles Marini, model Tess Holliday, Lil Bub, Tricia Helfer,
Addison Riecke, Shrinkle, Jackson Galaxy,
Cats of Instagram, Pudge, Nala Cat and siblings White Coffee Cat and Luna Rose, Lizzy
Greene, and more.
More than 140 vendors showcased their
cat-centric products for cats and people in the
areas of art, furniture, clothing, accessories and
design, with many returning exhibitors exceeding sales from the year prior and many completely selling out of merchandise.
CATCO
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Lil Bub and her owner, Mike Bridavsky,
with actor Ian Somerhalder
WOOF GANG BAKERY CELEBRATES
10 YEARS IN BUSINESS
Woof Gang Bakery is commemorating its 10th anniversary. The company, which opened its first store in
Jupiter, Fla., in November 2007, now has 90 locations
in 12 states across the U.S.—and will sell its 100th franchise by the end of this year.
“One thing that anyone should smile about is when
a company with no investors or loans grows from
nothing to 100 stores in a 10-year period,” said Paul
Allen, president and CEO of Woof Gang Bakery,
which has headquarters in Orlando, Fla. “When I
look back, I can’t believe we did it with no money.
Our stores will gross more than $50 million in the next
12 months, and we expect to reach the number of 300
stores in the next few years.”
Each store serves the needs of pets with a per-
sonal touch, providing nutritious pet food, gourmet
baked treats, stylish accessories, plush and tough
toys, chews and bones, boutique housewares and
more. Woof Gang Bakery started grooming August
2010, and, this year, the company will groom more
than 400,000 dogs.
Woof Gang Bakery recently launched its Wellness
Centers, where pets receive services that range from
traditional grooming to massages, yoga and veterinary care.
Customers can also take advantage of the new
dog-walking service, which, together with the dog day
care service already offered at some stores, rounds out
the one-stop-shop concept for pet care. The company
now operates three types of stores: Woof Gang Bakery
& Grooming full-service stores, Woof Gang Bakery
boutique stores and Woof Gang Bakery at Home.
CHARLEE BEAR
CELEBRATES 25TH
ANNIVERSARY
Charlee Bear Products,
a Madison, Wis.-based
treat manufacturer, is
celebrating 25 years
of making treats for
dogs of all shapes and
sizes. With two product lines, Original and
Bear Crunch, Charlee
Bear has been providing
customers with treats since 1992.
“We are so excited about this milestone anniversary,” said
Ava Olsen, brand manager. “Everyone at Charlee Bear loves
being part of the training experience and the bond that forms
between a dog and parent. We look forward to delivering de-
licious, all-natural treats to maintain healthy dog lifestyles for
years to come.”
To celebrate, the brand launched a social media contest in
August where fans could enter a grand-prize drawing to win
a Petzi Treat Camera and a variety pack of Bear Crunch treats.
PRESIDIO
NATURAL PET
CO. MAKES
ITS DEBUT
Parkers Pet Provisions, which acquired Complete Natural Nutrition earlier this
year, has revealed a new name for the combined company, Presidio Natural Pet Co., to better represent and bring together the
growing family of brands.
Complete Natural Nutrition has offered natural pet treats
since 2005, and is best known for its Pill Buddy Naturals, Off
Leash, Cheese Please, Crunch Skins and Terräbone brands.
Parkers Pet Provisions in San Francisco has been focused on
providing healthful treats and nutritional supplements to pets
through its Parkers Jerky, Cat Sushi and FetchFuel brands.
“In the short time that we have operated as a joint company,
the Parkers-Complete Natural Nutrition family of brands has experienced strong support from our retail and distribution partners, and we are excited to grow our independent pet brands,”
said Andrew Morrison, co-founder and CEO of Presidio Natural
Pet Co. “We wanted our combined family of brands to have their
own identity, eliminating any confusion about who the parent
company is.”
Presidio Natural Pet Co. is dedicated to providing all-natural, high-quality treats and nutritional supplements for pets, said
company officials.
“Customers are now able to find our industry-leading, all-natural pill treats, soft and chewy trainers, grain-free functional
dental bones, single-ingredient dog and cat treats, and more
through Presidio Natural Pet Co.,” said Spyq Sklar, co-founder
and COO of Presidio Natural Pet Co. in San Francisco. “We’re
so excited about the rapid growth of our company, but also the
industry overall, which is demanding the range of products we
now provide.”
HEALTHY PAWS FOUNDATION JOINS FORCES WITH HABRI
Healthy Paws Foundation, the charitable arm funded in part by
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance—an insurance provider for dogs
and cats—has joined forces with Human Animal Bond Research
Institute (HABRI) to make a contribution to support its research
on the mental and physical health benefits of owning a pet.
Healthy Paws will sit alongside other leaders in the pet care
community on the HABRI Steering Committee. This commitment focuses on creating awareness of “the pet effect,” including health benefits for people and improved health and welfare
for pets.
“We believe in the work HABRI is doing,” said Rob Jackson,
chief pet protector at Healthy Paws in Bellevue, Wash. “Their
research tells us that companion animals have a positive health
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