Pet Wants Franchisees Bring Brand to Their Texas Hometown

Eduardo and Josue Ventura, a father-and-son duo with in-depth franchising experience, have emBARKed on a new journey with Pet Wants in Houston.

Josue, who co-owns 10 pizza franchise locations, is teaming up with his son Eduardo, who has also worked his way up through a large pizza franchise system over the years. Their deep-rooted experience in managing and operating franchise locations, combined with a desire to return to their hometown of Houston, led them to explore opportunities that aligned with their personal interests and professional backgrounds. And one of those shared interests, it turns out, was a passion for furry, four-legged friends.

“We decided to franchise with Pet Wants because we have pets of our own and we could tell that the food was special,” said Josue. “The product was really what sold us. Our biggest goal is to just get the best pet food out there.”

Now, since recently opening up their Pet Wants in the Houston suburbs of of Sienna and West Pearland, their ambitious vision for the future is to expand their portfolio to at least 10 stores within the next five to 10 years. Their commitment to investing "200% effort" reflects their dedication to not only succeeding, but also contributing to the brand's overall growth.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Eduardo: I’ve worked at a major pizza franchise since I was 16. I’m 25 now. I was a customer service representative at first, but I eventually became store manager and then a district manager.

Josue: I also started with a major pizza franchise back in 2002 as a driver. I worked my way up to become a manager and then invested as a co-owner for a couple franchise locations in Georgia.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Eduardo: My dad owns 10 pizza franchise locations, so we already knew the ropes of franchising.

Josue: The structure that franchising brings is great, especially compared to all the challenges that come with opening your own business from scratch. Whether a franchise has 100 stores or thousands of stores, they are already successful.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Eduardo: We are originally from Houston, so our main goal was to find a franchise that had availability there so we could move back home. We were looking at several franchise concepts. One day, while in our local pet store, I had the thought that this could be a great industry to get into.

We both have dogs. We looked at four different pet franchises, but eventually Pet Wants came around and they had availability in Houston. We also got a gift basket with Pet Wants products, and we immediately saw the vision.

If our dogs loved the products so much, we knew that dogs around the Houston area would also love it.

Josue: We decided to go with Pet Wants because we have pets of our own and we could tell that it was special. The product was really what sold us. Our biggest goal is just getting the best pet food out there. Also, building a Pet Wants versus building a pet store from the ground up was so much cheaper.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?

Eduardo: If everything goes to plan, our plan is to open at least 10 stores within the next five to 10 years. We’re not going to stop there — we want to keep going with this company and we are going to put 200% effort in on our end. We would happily open 100 locations one day. We are really excited.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Josue: Don’t get nervous. When you go with a franchise, it will have everything in place already. If you follow those guidelines, you will do well. They will be there to help you — they want you to succeed just as much as you want to succeed yourself. Don’t be afraid to go for it.

Pet Wants is a pet health and wellness company that strives to improve the nutrition, health, vitality, and well-being of pets. Founded in 2010, the brand’s specially crafted, private-label pet food formulas are made in small batches with fresh, natural ingredients complete with vitamins and minerals for a complete and balanced diet in every bowl, all made in the USA. Pet Wants has set a new standard in what you should expect in your pet food through their 140+ locations across the United States.