Momentum Behind the Healthy Pet Food Trend is Setting Ben’s Barketplace Up for Long-Term Success as it Launches its Franchise Opportunity

Momentum in the pet care segment of the franchising industry has been building for years. And now, there’s a new niche within that segment that’s experiencing rapid growth: “Health Food for Pets”

With nearly 85 million households across the country making the decision to have pets become a part of their families, according to the American Pet Products Association, it’s no surprise that pet owners are starting to think more about the food that they're feeding their animals, their family members. And according to Brad Romero, co-founder of emerging franchise and the Healthy Food Store for Dogs and Cats” concept, Ben’s Barketplace, this is a trend that’s only just begun to take off.

“If you look at the statistics, the pet care industry as a whole is vertical. And pet food is a large majority of that overall growth,” said Romero. “At Ben’s Barketplace, we’re in a perfect position to take advantage of this spike in demand. We’re incredibly aware of the raw pet food segment of the industry, which is something that most brands simply don’t know anything about. That positions us as the segment’s leading raw food consultation service in America, and we’re eager to capitalize on our unique expertise.”

Market growth potential

Ben’s Barketplace is already seeing impressive success with its expertise in the raw pet food business. In 2016, the brand brought in more than $1.3 million in sales, and it has seen a 15 percent year-over-year growth for the past three years. According to Romero, that consistent increase in demand is due to the fact that there’s a shift happening in the pet industry as a whole. And as more people are discovering the healthy benefits that come with a raw food diet, they’re all too willing to leave their old feeding habits behind.

“Raw food is the species correct diet for dogs and cats. But over the past five decades, pet owners have been taught to scoop and dump dry food into their pets' bowls. That’s because these scavenging carnivores will eat what’s in front of them.

They have no choice. However, we’ve now been compromising their diets generation after generation, and it’s taking a toll. Dogs are supposed to live to be 20 years old, but that’s just not happening anymore,” Romero said.

Raw food benefits

“We’re repairing dogs and cats with raw food diets that are tailored to their individual needs. Now it’s up to us to educate more and more pet owners about the benefits that come with a species correct raw food diet.”

That education has already started taking place across the country thanks to the millennial generation. Instead of accepting the status quo without asking any questions, young pet owners are doing their own research to determine the healthiest course of action for their individual pets. They’re also actively seeking out stores like Ben’s Barketplace to find a one of a kind feeding plan for their animals.

“It comes down to the fact that people are becoming frustrated. The millennial generation is doing more research than previous generations, and they’re not buying what the traditional veterinary industry is selling,” said Romero. “Millennials are a healthier generation themselves—they go to the gym and they’re paying attention to what they eat. It makes sense that they’re doing the same for their pets. And the conclusion that they’re coming to is that the raw food diet is exactly what they should be feeding their four-legged friends.”

Franchise opportunity

It’s that obvious conclusion that’s positioning for Ben’s Barketplace up for success as an emerging franchise system. Up until now, the health food for pet’s segment of the industry was severely underserved, meaning that there’s an untapped consumer base looking for its products and services. When that climbing demand is combined with Ben’s Barketplace’s strong support system and proven business model, franchisees have the potential to turn their passion for pets into a thriving career.

And with start-up costs ranging from $189,800 to $352,050, it’s affordable for aspiring local owners to make this business ownership opportunity a reality.

“It’s an incredibly exciting time to be a part of the pet industry, especially in the healthy pet food segment. This is an area that’s bursting with potential, and Ben’s Barketplace is already ahead of the curve,” said Romero. “We’re looking forward to sharing our expertise with franchisees who join our system. By following our system, we’re confident that they’ll be able to experience a similar success—and joy—that we do on a daily basis.”