Pet Care

AFCO will support pet specialty retailers in eight Northwestern states.

Marcoot Jersey Creamery continues the expansion of the wildly popular Dog-O’s with new distribution partner AFCO Distribution and Milling. AFCO will support pet specialty retailers in eight Northwestern states: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming.

Building off the early success of Dog-O’s 100% Cheesy Chompers Dog 100% Cheese Treats, the company is proud to launch New for ‘22 Dog-O’s Cheesy Chompers with Real USA Bacon Dog Treats, Dog-O’s Cheese Bites, and Dog-O’s Ice Ice Doggy Frozen Protein Dog Treats.

The AFCO partnership will introduce Dog-O’s growing product line, all sourced, produced and packaged fresh daily on the Marcoot’s 7th generation family farm in Greenville, Illinois, to independent pet specialty retailers.

Amy Marcoot, co-owner of family-owned Marcoot Jersey Creamery states, “We are thrilled to partner with AFCO and most effectively serve independent retailer relationships all along the Northwest Regions that share our values supporting pet specialty retailers and love our artisanal USA cheese treats. Each of our Dog-O’s treats are made with the same care and consideration that our cheese for humans is made each and every day, and we greatly appreciate the support of the pet industry as a whole and retailers and distributors like AFCO that believe in our products as much as we do.”

Judee High, pet category manager of AFCO Distribution & Milling adds, “AFCO is thrilled to have added the Dog-O’s product line of 100% USA Cheese Treats to our brand portfolio. Offering top quality, innovative product lines available for our dealers is one of our top priorities and Dog-O’s certainly fits that bill! The AFCO team is very excited about the opportunity to be a Dog-O’s distribution partner.”

Transition into the pet industry was natural for the owners and two Marcoot sisters, Beth and Amy Marcoot, from their seventh-generation dairy farm. Proudly woman-owned, Dog-O’s was inspired by the two sisters, alongside their lifelong best friend and business partner Audie Wall. This trio drew inspiration from their lifelong love of their pets and their passion for farming and producing the highest quality cheese for people and families across the U.S.

Dog-O’s inaugural product, Cheesy Chompers and NEW Cheesy Chompers with Real Bacon are available in 2 sizes: Small Dog and Medium/Large Dog, with continual plans for further expansion and development of the brand in the very near future. PDQ displays are also available for a shelf-friendly, eye-catching presentation.

Dog-O’s is also launching “new for ‘22” products in the raw-friendly freezer section: Dog-O’s Cheese Bites and Dog-O’s Ice Ice Doggy which are protein-packed whey frozen mini-cup sized treats for dogs. Educational training materials for retailers are also available from the company to help promote new/repeat business.

For more about Dog-O’s, how to order or how to become a retailer or distribution partner for this fast-growing line, please visit www.dogostreats.com. For more on Marcoot Jersey Creamery, please visit www.marcootjerseycreamery.com.

About Dog-O’s

Fresh off the farm, Dog-O’s are the cheesiest treats around! Based in America’s heartland of Greenville, Illinois, Marcoot Jersey Creamery took their mouthwatering cheese and dried it into yummy snacks for dogs to munch on and Dog-O’s were born! Dog-O’s are made from 100% locally sourced and produced, high-quality, all-natural ingredients. That means they are 100% cheese! For more information or to become a distributor or retailer, please visit www.dogostreats.com.

About AFCO Distribution & Milling

AFCO Distribution is a wholesale distribution company with warehouses in both Spokane Valley and Burlington, Washington. AFCO distributes over 5,000 products including animal feeds, wildlife products, pet food and supplies along with fencing and livestock equipment. We proudly distribute many manufacturers such as Diamond Pet Foods, High Country Plastics, Kong, LMF Equine Feeds, NULO, Woodstream, and many more. Our employees take great pride in providing benchmark customer service to our over 400 dealer accounts. For more about AFCO, please visit www.afcodistribution.com.

K9 Candy Kitchen and We are NDependenet have joined.

Bulldog Marketing & Sales, Inc., the marketing firm dedicated to Pet Product Marketing and formed to give start-ups, entrepreneurs, small to mid-sized organizations access to top level marketing talent, announced the addition of two new clients.

K9 Candy Kitchen engaged Bulldog to help develop its line of Himalayan Hemp Stix, Beef Jerky and Turkey Bacon. The assignment included packaging design, pricing, launch strategy, PR and sales development. Most recently, Bulldog helped create and introduce the company’s Private Label division. For more information on K9 Candy Kitchen, please visit www.k9candykitchen.com.

“Working with Bulldog has taken us in directions we never thought possible when we started K9 Candy Kitchen,” said Riki Trowe, the company’s owner. “Bulldog has a deep knowledge of how the pet industry operates and knows what levels to pull to generate sales.”

Newcomer, We are NDependenet, is a company that sells dog and cat treats exclusively to the Independent Pet Channel. It engaged Bulldog to expand its trade awareness with Public Relations. To date Bulldog has helped generate over 25,000+ impressions among retail buyers and industry influencers. For more information on We are NDependent, please visit www.ndependentpet.com.

“We know awareness is key to launching a new product line,” said Rusty Hawes, one of the company’s co-founders. “We also know Bulldog has the connections with the trade publications and has a strong following on LinkedIn to help us get the word out quickly and inexpensively.”

Lean more about how Bulldog Marketing & Sales, Inc. can grow your business by visiting www.bulldogms.com or by calling 855-456-4738.

About Bulldog Marketing & Sales, Inc.

Bulldog Marketing & Sales, Inc. is a full service agency formed in 2009 by Pet Industry veteran John Cullen. The company has over 25 years of marketing and sales experience ranging from marketing strategy to new product development and retail sell-in. It has increased sales and developed new products for the Fortune 500 as well as for start-ups. Marketing & sales expertise includes the Pet Products, Consumer Packaged Goods and Consumer Electronics industries. Bulldog is headquartered in Ridgefield, CT, about an hour north of midtown Manhattan. For more information, visit www.bulldogms.com.

The Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI) has awarded PetDine’s recently expanded Harvard, IL, pet food manufacturing facility a 97 out of 100 Excellent Safe Quality Food (SQF) audit rating. The 210,000 square foot facility’s Excellent SQF food safety certification achievement demonstrates PetDine’s commitment to producing the safest, highest quality pet supplements, treats and food for clients to bring to market.

“We hold the SQF certification with such esteem,” said Jorge Martinez Carrillo, President of ADM Pet Solutions. “Earning an Excellent rating is no small feat, and we are proud of the PetDine team for obtaining this important designation toward becoming a world-class facility.”

SQF certification has become the benchmark for food processors, retailers and food service providers across the world. PetDine’s Harvard facility has been SQF certified since 2019. Plant Manager Victor Martinez Rodriguez and his team’s participation in SQFI’s rigorous SQF Code Edition 9 certification process included registering the company with the SQF practitioner, choosing a level of certification, and passing an audit that is performed by a licensed SQF certification body, which includes reviews of documents, interviews with staff and an assessment of the company’s facility. The Edition 9 audit process, which reinforced PetDine’s food safety management system by identifying and mitigating potential risks and hazards that can emerge within pet treat and food manufacturing, was led by PetDine’s Quality Assurance Manager and SQF Practitioner, Carlie Gabrys, along with Jennifer Zazula, PetDine’s Food Safety Coordinator. PetDine will participate in regular audits to uphold SQF compliance and maintain its certification.

“We stress safety and quality so our clients have one less thing to worry about and can focus on bringing industry-leading products to pet owners worldwide,” said Preston Munsch, PetDine CEO. “The SQF certification process opens PetDine’s doors to third-party inspection and critique. Earning such a high rating is proof of our team’s dedication to producing the highest quality pet products on behalf of our clients.”

For more information about SQF certification, visit sqfi.com. To learn more about PetDine and its manufacturing processes, please contact Justin Boling at 970.692.6134 or justin.boling@petdine.com. Additional information about PetDine can be found at PetDinellc.com.

About Petdine

PetDine, a division of ADM, is a contract manufacturer that helps entrepreneurs capitalize on opportunities through the development of custom pet supplements, food and treats. From sourcing the finest ingredients to utilizing the highest quality standards, the company focuses on keeping pets happy and healthy. Its pet products span soft chews, liquid food toppers, powders, dental and long goods, baked treats and kibble. PetDine works with clients to customize pet products while meeting their requirements for price, positioning and safety. For more information about PetDine, visit PetDineLLC.com.

We are NDependent, officially announced the launch of its ‘Plus’ line of Necks+ and Tripe+ Freeze-Dried Raw Dog and Cat treats. The company was co-founded by Jeff Sandy, Rob Mellem and Rusty Hawes in 2021 after visiting SuperZoo. The trio sensed a real angst from independent pet retailers and distributors who had been so instrumental in supplying pet parents during the Covid pandemic. The channel felt it was being left behind by manufacturers that were being swallowed and consolidated by private equity investors that are focused on an omni channel distribution strategy. The Ndependent team also knows the indie channel has always been a source of innovation, education, quality service, and an integral part of the community they serve. The idea was born to create a company that offers high-quality, unique products for passionate pet lovers sold ONLY to and through the Independent Pet Channel.

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“It was time for us to create a company that wasn’t just paying lip-service to the independent pet channel,” said Rusty Hawes, one of the co-founders. “The purpose of our business is to support and grow in and with the independents. Having products that can ONLY be found in the channel creates customer loyalty to the channel – that is our goal.”

The new line contains four SKUs for dogs and four for cats. It supports the company’s tagline, Everyday Uncommon by taking the common freeze dried cube shape treat with the uncommon inclusions the company is becoming known for. In this case, mixing highly nutritious green tripe (bison or beef) or ground necks (turkey or chicken) with comfort food ingredients and herbs.

The 4-ounce Dog versions retail for $18.99 in store ($19.99 on the company’s website). The 1.5 ounce Cat bags retail for 9.99 in store and $10.49 online.

Company sales are handled through Packer Mellem Sales of Madison, WI (www.packermellem.com). Product can also be ordered directly at wholesale prices from the company’s website.

For more information on carrying the We are NDependent Necks+ and Tripe+ lines contact Packer Mellem Sales (info@packermellemsales.com) or visit www.ndependentpet.com. The company will be exhibiting at SuperZoo 2022, Booth #3103.

About We are NDependent

We are NDependent Was founded in 2021 by Jeff Sandy, Rob Mellem and Rusty Hawes to create unique Independent Pet channel specific products. Its philosophies of “Return to Community” and “Everyday Uncommon” are born from their 70+ years of experience in the independent pet channel. For more information, please visit www.ndependentpet.com.

Nature Gnaws is adding 3 new 100% natural dog chews to add to its product line. The products include Braided Bully Twist, Braided Jerky and Braided Gnaws. Nature Gnaws’ Braided Bully sticks are some of their most popular products, which sparked a new idea in the kitchen to expand on the design of the chew.

“You know, this is what we love to do, make something in the kitchen for our best friends. Choose the right products, shapes and then the combinations.” says Ariosto Matellini, head of product creation at Nature Gnaws parent company, Torito Brands. “We are always thinking about the flavors, the protein, benefits and of course the enjoyment for the dog. We depend on our imagination and years of experience to create the perfect natural chew.”

The first of the new products is the Braided Beef Jerky. These chews are 100% natural and single-ingredient beef gullet. This chewy delight comes in a 5-6” size for smaller to medium size dogs, and in a 11-12” size for medium to large pups. They serve as a great training session reward and as an anxiety or stress-relieving distraction.

Also new to the chew line is the Braided Bully Twists, which come in varying sizes for different size chewers. The Braided Bully Sticks are crafted together with 2 pieces of single-ingredient premium quality chewy beef jerky braided by 1 long lasting beef bully stick. These natural chews are handcrafted, and oven baked for perfect treat that to satisfy a dog in need of gnaw time.

Lastly, the Braided Gnaws is a complete innovation and is a patent pending product. The chew is made of twisted tripe, beef jerky and beef bully stick, oven-baked together into one fantastically fun chew. These gnaws are great for a dynamic chew session for a smaller, medium, or large pup.

Nature Gnaws new Braided Chews are available now on Amazon and Nature Gnaws’ website, ranging in price from $19.99 – $32.99 per pack. For more information Nature Gnaws visit www.Naturegnaws.com

About Torito Brands | Nature Gnaws

Torito Brands, the responsible pet parent company, is an SQF Certified, and vertically integrated pet business. Founded in 2016, the company is still family run and headquartered in Deerfield Beach, Florida with 90 employees. Torito distributes across the USA on marketplaces such as Amazon, Chewy, Petco, Target and Walmart, as well as internationally. Torito Brands has been recognized for its growth accomplishments and contributions to the community by the city of Deerfield Beach, Florida.

For more information, visit www.Naturegnaws.com and www.Toritobrands.com.