This 'cat and dog wine' company is earning $500,000
Pets enjoy a lot of luxuries, but why don't they have their own drinks? That's the question which got pet food company employee-turned-entrepreneur Brandon Zavala going. With a spur-of-the-moment idea and a $4,000 investment, 33-year-old Zavala's quest to make 'cat wine', 'dog wine', and other pet beverages has, in three years, grown to a $560,000-annual-revenue company. Here's more on his intriguing journey.
The idea that gave birth to Apollo Peak
One day, it occurred to Zavala that the alcoholic beverages market for humans was growing "exponentially", but no one had thought of making similar products for pampered pets. In addition, he found that wine culture in America was pretty massive, and that cat owners had an affinity for white wine. Armed with $4,000, Zavala started his side project, dubbed "Apollo Peak", in 2015.
Why name the company Apollo Peak?
Zavala named his company Apollo Peak after his oldest cat Apollo. Unlike his other cat Hades, Apollo hated his cat wine, but Zavala still stuck to him. Why? Apollo went missing for two years but was found, and Zavala was inspired by Apollo's survival skills.
Zavala started selling right out of his kitchen
Zavala's 'alcoholic' pet beverages obviously don't contain alcohol. Instead, they contain other products which have similar, yet non-harmful effects on pets. Initially, Zavala started kitchen experiments with catnip, a plant which gives cats a sort of a non-harmful high. By October 2015, Zavala developed a product which he felt cats would like, and he pitched it to local pet stores. He immediately got orders.
In 2016, it went viral in the US
In 2016, Zavala decided to aim a bit higher, and contacted pet retailers Meaowbox. Meaowbox asked for 4,000 units. Soon, Zavala's apartment was full of his Pinot Meow cat wine bottles, and he rented a small storage space. What followed was Zavala's cat wine going viral - his company was covered by the Huffington Post, and he got calls from ABC's 'Shark Tank'.
Zavala's Apollo Peak had seen tremendous growth in two years
In September 2016, Zavala was promised a $100,000 investment following his pitch at ABC's 'Shark Tank'. Although he later didn't get that investment, Zavala's business kept growing - within a couple of years, Zavala had graduated from his kitchen to having a full 2,700-square-foot full-production facility by April 2017. Zavala's company, Apollo Peak, recorded $450,000 in revenues in 2016, and $560,000 in 2017.
Soon, Zavala was also making dog wine
By this time, Zavala had diversified his products, making healthy dog wine with chicken broth base and ingredients like star anise powder which is known to mellow out dogs. As his business grew, Zavala had to quit his job at the company and focus on his business. He initially roped in some friends, but later sought professional management.
Now, Zavala is looking into cannabis-infused pet beverages
Now Zavala, who is based out of Colorado, is experimenting with cannabis-infused beverages for pets. He has already conducted some tests and says cannabis helps with pet anxiety and inflammation related problems. However, he is currently scanning the legal scenario with his young-but-experienced eye to make sure he's aware of regulations and doesn't get into legal trouble.
