Pet Food Business

[saracen]

Anyone running a pet food business able to give advice on a start-up ?

Thanks.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

That's very vague,a bit more info may get you a response.

 

[Dawg]

What do you want to know? Retailing, wholesaling, distribution, manufacturing, ecomm, B&M, importing, markets, exports, major players, inside leg?

 

[saracen]

Oops sorry.

Yes retail. Is there still room from an independant selling an array of pet foods from a shop, or does the likes of supermarkets have the monopoly ?

There would also be a home delivery service available.
Also seeking trade suppliers.

Where i am based there is one independant pet food outlet which is expensive ( according to many people i have asked ) and an agriculture merchant who also supplies foods but the latter doesnt break up large bags to sell in smaller quantities such as 1 or 2 kg bags etc..

There is a market stall which comes every Saturday, it is very busy as feeds & treats are a lot cheaper. This could be because their overheads are much less or indeed they are just simply cheaper than the shop i mentioned.


I hope this gives a better idea of my initial question.

Many thanks.

 

[Dawg]

Like all independent High Street retail the pet sector is suffering from both competition from the majors, (Tesco, Sainsbury et al), and from the large chains, Pets at Home being an example.

You will find it very hard to compete on price and variety with the above, especially if you are undercut by market traders at the same time.

As with many sectors the main thing you can compete in is service. In the pet sector this means being knowledgeable about animal health, nutrition and general well being, areas where the multiples can't compete. But this is knowledgeable beyond the Dummies Guides series, and has legal ramifications of offering advice when not a vet. Still do-able though, and done very well indeed by some. The Haslemere Pet Company for instance keeps winning awards, and one of the owners is now getting national recognition as a nutritional expert.

For ideas and guidance try looking at the Pet Business Forum.

 

[i234i]

There is someone on here with a nice pet supplie site, couldnt find the member name though and they run it from a trade unit and get customers... they were looking to expand it a bit too i think...

if i can find the member name ill send it to you - i think they'd be your best bet!

 

[papverpoppies]

Wholesalers must make a living or else they would not exist - but I am not sure how they compete with the supermakets.

I know they offer a far wider range, and deliver (as do some supermarkets) these days - but the mark up ie profit must only be small.

I have been ordering large quantaties of food (from a wholesaler for years) and from a large pet well known pet food manufacturer for equally as many years.

Not even the manufacturer can come close to the supermarkets on price (even with free delivery on orders over £60.00)!

I think anyone with a lot of animals uses the Internet more today and shops around for the best prices - thus wholesalers are offering a delivery service for national deliveries - in order to try and gain more of the market.

It would depend on what type of wholesale you want to go into - I really do not think that is much of a living to be had from the small wholesaler these days..you also have to be able to offer a wide choice, and not just cat and dog food either.

Poppy

 

[Christiane]

We have 3 independent pet shops, a PAH and a market stall here. I favour the market stall but none of them stock the Antos range. I have to drive 15 miles to get to a Pet Shop that does unless I order on the net.
I sometimes buy from Wilkinsons too as they are cheap (got 4 cans of Butchers for £1.48 today!).
A new pet shop, van deliveries only, ''opened'' here recently but they don't stock anything I buy!
I'm not that keen to buy from supermarket, I'd rather go to a pet shop.
Just do your research.

 

[Fuzzy]

I was gonna suggest to pick Dawg's brains, but then...........

 

[saracen]

Great advice, thanks everyone for your time.