American Dog Profile: Evanger's, Meet the Family-Owned Pet Food Company!

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


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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