Member Article

Fast growing Leeds based pet suppliers cross the Channel for growth

A Leeds based pet supplier has today announced they will be expanding into France after receiving significant funding.

Monster Pet Supplies, based at Cardigan Industrial Estate has recently started exporting overseas to France and has launched a French language version of their website after doubling turnover in the past 12 months.

Despite pricing and shipping charges the company are able to compete effectively for business even at a distance – supplying specialist dog food cheaper to the French than they can purchase it from a local trader.

Jonny Gould, owner of Monster Pet Supplies said: “We’ve doubled our turnover in the last 12 months, have a fantastic e-commerce conversion rate and more than 50% of our customers come back and buy from us again.

“The time seemed right to expand overseas and we’re confident with the excitement of Le Grand Depart this year that it can only make potential French customers feel positive about a family-run Yorkshire business like Monster Pet Supplies.”

Jonny Gould with Theo Paphitis

Jonny Gould with Theo Paphitis

Monster Pet Supplies was established in 2010 and now employs 14 staff and has a turnover of £3million. The company, which sells pet supplies online to the general public, also has ambitious plans to enter the Chinese market and import pet supplies from the world’s second largest economy.

Barclays has provided support through working capital and international services.

Dawn Spencer, business banking manager at Barclays said: “Whilst many businesses have been thinking about the opportunities the Tour de France will bring to the UK, it’s great to see that Jonny and his team have used the opportunity to focus their plans overseas in France.

“They already have a massive following on Facebook and Twitter in both the UK and France and the future looks bright for this well-managed, forward thinking ambitious company.”

Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis named Monster Pet Supplies as winners in his Small Business Sunday competition on Twitter last year.

Small Business Sunday (#SBS) is a weekly Twitter competition which asks small businesses to tweet Theo Paphitis between 5 and 7.30pm on Sunday evening. Theo then chooses his favourite 6, and promotes them by re-tweeting to his 360,00 followers.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Graham Vincent .