MEET THE FAMILY: FAMILY-OWNED PET FOOD COMPANIES
EVANGER’S DOG AND CAT FOOD COMPANY
Owners: Joel and Holly Sher
www.evangersdogfood.com
From American Dog Magazine
Author: Jamie Downey
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| Evanger's Owners Joel Sher and Holly Sher, with their dog Yukon |
Q: What was the inspiration for starting your own pet food company?
In 1935, Fred Evanger started making his
own canned foods with pure meat because he felt that his champion Great
Danes required superior nutrition in order to prevent any dietary
deficiencies. He was not satisfied with the commercial pet foods
available to him at that time and believed that using human-grade meats
was essential to increasing the dogs’ longevity. Fred was a family
friend, and Joel was the raw material supplier for over 20 years for
Evanger’s, so in 2002 we bought the company. Today, we continue to
innovate with the same enthusiasm as our founder, and we strive to
maintain Fred Evanger’s commitment to quality and quest to keep pets
healthy and happy.
Q: What have been the most exciting rewards of owning a family-run pet food business?
Evanger’s is the last privately held and
family-owned pet food cannery in the country. We can come up with
recipes and novel ideas and launch them almost overnight. We don’t have
to get answers from shareholders who are only interested in profit. For
example, we make Chunky Chicken Casserole only because it is my dog’s
favorite recipe. The profit on that food is almost nothing to the
Evanger family. However, to Yukon our dog, it is the best of the best.
Q: What makes your pet food a little different from other pet foods?
The most exciting reward has been the
ability to know exactly what our pets are eating. Our pet food is clean,
healthy, and organic. As owners and passionate pet parents, we are able
to offer our food to all other pet parents who want the best for their
pets, just like us. We use ingredients that include organic turkey,
organic chicken, organic beef, organic blueberries, organic cranberries,
organic apples, organic bananas, organic sweet potatoes, organic
artichoke, organic broccoli, organic spinach, and organic olive oil,
just to name a few. Not only are these ingredients organic, they also
assist with an array of health benefits for pets, which include bright
and clear eyes, strong immune systems, assistance with eliminating skin
infections and allergies, as well as healthy stools and healthy shiny
coats.
Q: What makes your pet food a little different from other pet foods?
We use fresh meat. In 2002 we developed
the concept of hand-packed pet food. It was initially developed
specifically for our dog, Yukon; a beautiful Samoyed/Chow Chow mix with a
very selective palate. Even though the meat was the same, Yukon
preferred to eat our dinner steaks instead of his ground steak. So we
decided to try putting a whole, non-ground piece of beef in a can and
cook it. Of course, when we served it to Yukon that evening, he loved
it, and our #1 flavor,
Hunk of Beef, was born. All of our Evanger’s dog foods must be approved
by Yukon before we bring them to market. Our mission is to increase the
quality and enjoyment of life of our companion pets through nutrition.
To this day, Evanger’s remains just as committed to quality and
innovation as ever, and we continue to develop new products that will
fit within this philosophy. We have proudly been independently owned for
over 75 years, and because of this, we continue to sell our products
exclusively through independent neighborhood pet shops where quality and
customer service are of the utmost importance.
Q: What are the plans for the future of Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Company?
We take a tremendous amount of joy and
pride in manufacturing what we truly believe is the best pet food in the
world. We are a family-owned and family-operated company, and we love
that what we do every day makes such a large and positive impact on the
health and quality of life for your pets. Every year, we offer new
recipes for dogs and cats that taste delicious, and we always have
something cooking in the kitchen.
Evanger’s offers a wide selection of grain-free, kosher, organic, and premium selections for your pets. Visit www.evangersdogfood.com for more information.
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