Bright Planet Pet, a Minneapolis-based maker of vegan dog treats, has won a spot on Petco store shelves nationwide.
Petco agreed to add the plant-based dog treats to 850 stores across all 50 states, according to a recent announcement from Bright Planet. The deal comes after a successful 6-week test earlier this summer at select Petco stores. Bright Plant Pet treats can be found in Petco's alternative-protein-treats section, where there will be five flavors to choose from. The variations sold include rotisserie chicken, Italian meatball, bacon, barbecue chicken and a burger flavor.
Bright Planet Pet got its start in 2020 after Founder and CEO Katherine Ellison decided to start her own business. Prior to co-founding the company with her husband Dave, Ellison spent over a decade of her career in management roles at pet food manufacturers and suppliers, such as Perfection Pet Foods, American Nutrition Inc. and Royal Pet Inc. She has a bachelor’s in marketing from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
Since the startup's launch, the brand has been sold in over 4,200 stores across North America. It was also a MN Cup finalist in 2022.
Bright Planet Pet sets itself apart from other pet food brands as being 100% vegan to cater to environmentally-conscious pet owners. Sustainability is one of its main business values. The brand says that their dog treats create up to 90% less carbon emissions and use almost 70% less water than meat-based treats. On its website, the company points to the numerous innovations that have been made for vegan food for humans, but not as much for our furry companions.
"Humans have meat alternative products for burgers, brats, and chicken, so why don’t dogs?" the website reads.
The pet food industry, separate from the vegan factor, has been growing to be a large portion of American spending. Last year, the total amount spent on pets grew from $123.6 billion in 2021 to $136.8 billion in 2022, according to the American Pet Products Association. Pet food and treats make up nearly half of those figures. The trend has caused large food manufacturers like General Mills and Post Holdings to likewise expand their pet food businesses in recent years.
