28 | 2022 Northland Business Excellence Awards: Northland Petfood Award tops rapid growth The Northland Petfood team, from left, Chris Wickenden, Craig Vacy-Lyle, Casi Bulkeley, Nika Van Der Merwe, and Luanne Vacy-Lyle (founder/owner/operator). T T Kelly Deeks REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT With a focus on all-natural New Zealand made products and a specialist service customised to meet the needs of individual pets, Northland Petfood has created its own niche in the market, growing substantially in the six years it has been in operation, and is now the proud winner of the Northland Business Excellence - Small Business Award. Northland Petfood founding director Luanne Vacy-Lyle says she and team were thrilled to win their category, having entered the awards solely to ‘give it a go’. She says with the title comes a huge dose of credibility and confidence in Northland Petfood’s products and services. Northland Petfood offers a full range of natural and New Zealand made wet and dry pet foods, treats, chews, and supplements, with their own homebrand range Natura dog food independently tested by Massey University to meet and exceed international AAFCO standards as a premium, vet quality food, as well as all natural, New Zealand made pet washes and treatments, accessories, bedding, and kennels. Specialising in itchy dogs, Luanne started her business after a vet recommended the steroid prednisone to treat her itchy one year old Jack Russell, Murphy. Faced with an unappealing choice between an unhappy, itchy dog and a happy, medicated, itch-free dog that would live a shorter life, Luanne chose neither. “That’s where Northland Petfood started, and Murphy was our test case,” she says. “100 years ago, lets say seven dogs out of 100 would have itching or scratching issues due to grass allergies. “Today, you will still have those seven dogs with grass allergies, but you will also have a further 35 dogs who are allergic to food, caused by consumption of 100 years worth of different food additives and chemicals. “This is now a huge booming industry in the pet market, and vets are medicating for problems that food has created.” Murphy is now 13 years old and instead of visiting the vet every couple of weeks for topup medications, he only visits for his annual check up. And Northland Petfood has grown from an online business operating out of Luanne’s garage and the weekly farmers market to now the biggest petfood store north of Whangarei. Even the arrival of Covid was no barrier to this young and thriving business. “Our support of New Zealand businesses was absolutely pivotal over Covid. “There was a shortage of petfood coming in to New Zealand from China and the rest of the world, but that didn’t impact our business because our ingredients are all New Zealand sourced and New Zealand made. “We actually grew phenomenally during Covid because we provided an alternative with good pricing and good quality.” Accessibility, affordability, and animal health have been the key drivers behind the development of the Northland Petfood’s range. “It’s about the customer and their needs. Our focus is on helping them help their pets.” The entire Northland Petfood range is gentle on pets’ stomachs, all natural and high quality with no chemicals or artificial additives. For unknown food allergies, Luanne recommends Northland Petfood’s most sensitive range, the Natura Itch Buster. “This has almost all of the allergy causing ingredients removed and will get your dogs tummy back on track, giving them the boost they need nutritionally to combat the inflammation and aggravation caused by their allergies. This food heals them from the inside out. ”Northland Petfood can also help with environmental or flea allergies, managing manage symptoms with a clean diet, a good probiotic, and some of the best itch soothe sprays and topical treatments available. Northland Petfood’s products give dogs’ bodies a fighting chance at dealing with flare-ups and reducing discomfort. “It’s about the customer and their needs. Our focus is on helping them help their pets.” All natural Flea Deterrent and nutritional supplement. Flee Flea helps to deter fleas in cats and dogs, and contributes to the health and wellbeing of your pet. Sprinkle on food daily info@fleeflea.co.nz www.fleeflea.co.nz www.facebook.com/fleeflea MADE IN NEW ZEALAND Lickimat.co.nz @lickimat.nz nz.hello@lickimat.com
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