Quality, simplicity and value is the mantra behind Natural Hounds, America’s first and only dog food kitchen franchise. With more people realizing the importance of prioritizing their dogs’ health and wellness these days, Natural Hounds stands poised to become a household name over the next decade. By Lizzy Yeserski
Quality, simplicity and value is the mantra behind Natural Hounds, America’s first and only dog food kitchen franchise. With more people realizing the importance of prioritizing their dogs’ health and wellness these days, Natural Hounds stands poised to become a household name over the next decade.
“If you want to truly stand out, and you believe that fresh food will become mainstream for dogs, this is a ground-floor opportunity to get into something that is rapidly growing,” said Co-founder Rick Orlandi.
Orlandi’s childhood friend Conor Wooley owned an English bulldog named Biscuit, who was prone to allergies attributed to food sensitivities. Wooley discovered that providing a home-cooked diet cleared up Biscuit’s issues. Inspired by the measurable results, Wooley and Orlandi fired up their entrepreneurial drive, and Natural Hounds was born.
“We wanted to make high-quality fresh food but also have a lot of value,” Orlandi explained.
The way the fresh food market was set up at the time – where items were required to be refrigerated or frozen for shipping – made it so no affordable option existed for devoted pet owners.
The duo began selling their high-quality dog food in farmers’ markets in 2018 and eventually built a kitchen storefront, where everything is made on-site and in plain view to simplify their micro-manufacturing. Additionally, customers were offered local delivery or in-store pickup at the two Long Island, New York, locations to eliminate shipping costs altogether.
“We believe that, with our model, we are able to bring value and affordability to fresh dog food that is not yet seen in other brands,” Orlandi said.
Besides supplying first-class canine nutrition, Natural Hounds embraces a pleasant and fun business atmosphere to unite dog lovers and deliver happiness to communities.
“It is a feel-good business,” said Orlandi. “I think that that’s a big thing. We’re providing a product that gives dogs what they need to live a happy and healthy life.”
Orlandi noted that owners who switch from dry food to human-grade fresh food can see changes in their pups almost immediately through aspects such as shinier coats, fresher breath and increased energy levels.
With three sets of products to choose from, Natural Hounds offers a diverse line and multiple revenue streams. The first is what Orlandi calls the brand’s main product. It’s a fresh, wet food option that’s slow-cooked for several hours as well as packaged and frozen in the same day.
Next are the treat offerings, which focus on single, whole-food ingredients, such as chicken and turkey. Natural Hounds also manufactures many types of dehydrated snacks, like sweet potato chips, in addition to crunchy biscuits available in gourmet flavors, such as peanut butter pumpkin.
The value proposition for potential franchisees truly stands out.
“We have a lot of confidence in our brand,” concluded Orlandi. “People want to be able to feed their dog healthy food without killing their wallet.”
With market experts predicting that fresh pet food will reach $6 billion in U.S. sales by 2030 inside the booming $128.6 billion pet market, there’s never been a better time to break into the dog food scene.
Lizzy Yeserski