Petcurean Celebrates 20 Years of Putting Pets First

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Press release: Petcurean

Petcurean, a leading manufacturer of premium pet food, is celebrating its 20th year in business, having spent the last two decades committed to its founding mission: putting pets first. To mark this company milestone, Petcurean has launched an anniversary video on its website, and will be donating one bowl of food for every time the video gets viewed, to select animal rescue groups and shelters in Canada and the USA with the goal of reaching 20,000 bowls of food.

Founded in Canada’s Fraser Valley in 1999 by two friends who wanted to do things differently, Petcurean was created to provide dogs and cats with premium quality, nutrient-rich food, made with the same level of care that went into the meals they prepared for their own families. Twenty years later, Petcurean recipes are now available in pet specialty stores across North America, and in over 30 countries around the world. The company produces three hallmark dry and wet food lines for dogs and cats: NOW FRESH, GO! SOLUTIONS and GATHER, as well as their SPIKE treats for dogs. 

“It has been amazing to be part of Petcurean’s journey as the company has evolved from a small operation in Canada’s Fraser Valley to a globally trusted brand of premium quality pet foods,” says Rick van Schagen, chief executive officer, Petcurean.  “While there are so many accomplishments to be proud of, the one that tops my list is how we have remained steadfast in our philosophy of putting pets first in everything we do.”

To celebrate its 20th Anniversary, Petcurean is highlighting four key pillars that have been pivotal to the company’s growth: Giving, Teamwork, Innovation and Community.

Giving: From day one, Petcurean has advocated for dogs and cats in need as a foundation of the company’s mission to put pets first. Petcurean consistently makes donations to animal shelters and rescues across North America, especially in times of crisis. Recent examples include a donation of 15,000 lbs of food to Birch Haven Rescue and Rehabilitation Services in Eastern Ontario, which was in desperate need of food for the multitude of giant breed dogs in their care. In 2018, Petcurean also donated 4,000 lbs to support pets displaced by Hurricane Florence in South Carolina and Hurricane Michael in Florida. Over the course of the last 20 years, Petcurean has donated more than 134,000 lbs of food, which amounts to approximately 509,000 bowls, supporting over 714 shelters.  

“Giving has always been part of the DNA here at Petcurean, and it has been passed down throughout each generation of the team,” says Christine Mallier, PR and community relations manager, Petcurean. “It was a natural fit to recognize this 20-year milestone with a way to give back to our community through our anniversary video. Whether it’s donations of food or volunteering our time in the community, we always try to help pets and those hard-working pet lovers on the frontlines, whenever and wherever we possibly can.”

Teamwork: Petcurean recognizes the importance of teamwork, and attributes the company’s incredible growth to its dedicated team of pet people, pet advocates and pet parents. The company’s collaborative work (and make time for play) environment has resulted in high levels of employee retention, with many long-tenured employees exceeding more than 10 years of service. 

Innovation: Petcurean is driven by the idea that pets deserve better. It was the company’s founding vision and still drives the company today. Petcurean is widely recognized in the pet food industry for its commitment to innovation, not only in its recipes, but also its ingredient sourcing and packaging choices. This spirit of innovation has resulted in Petcurean becoming a trusted pet food brand globally. When Petcurean developed its GATHER line, it became the first Canadian manufacturer of dry dog food to obtain MSC certification, a label provided by the Marine Stewardship Council to identify seafood which has been caught by fisheries that follow sustainable practice and care for the environment. In addition, the packaging for GATHER was made from 30 percent compostable plant-based material. Petcurean further demonstrated its commitment to innovation by launching, and recently expanding, its wet food recipes in sustainable, fully recyclable Tetra Pak cartons. 

Community: Petcurean acknowledges that its growth has been fueled by the unwavering support of pet specialty partners who are the pet experts in their local communities, as well as the many pet parents who trust the company to nourish their dogs and cats for life. In working to earn the trust of community partners over the past 20 years, Petcurean has always remained committed to being transparent and accessible. And whether someone is a life-long customer or recently discovered the impact proper nutrition can make, the company knows it has made a difference, however big or small.

“On behalf of all of us at Petcurean, we’d like to thank our customers, retail partners, distributors and rescue/shelter workers for their support over the past 20 years,” adds van Schagen. “With every ingredient we source, every recipe we develop, every donation we make, and everything else we do for the next 20 years and beyond, by working together, we will continue on our mission of putting pets first.”