Like a modern-day milkman, Bob McCarter cruises the city making deliveries.
His customers are so happy that they jump on him and drool when he arrives.
And McCarter loves it. Owner of The Creature Cafe, the local businessman delivers “premium” pet food to about 200 homes. That’s 600 pets, he estimates, and 125 miles a day as he makes stops from Moscow to West Memphis.
The pet food company was founded in California by former computer engineer Jeff Straub. The Memphis franchise is the only operation outside the Golden State.
McCarter bought into the company two years ago and opened an office in Collierville. With the recent pet food recall, his business has spiked and he calculates he’ll do $80,000 in sales this year.
“For a small business, when you’re just talking about dog food and treats, that’s quite a lot of dog food,” he said.
A 20-pound bag of dog food costs $24, a 10-pound bag of cat food runs $18, treats average $6 and delivery is free. The company markets itself as a healthful alternative with only American-made ingredients.
The in-house dog food brand is made at plants in Texas and New York and uses no corn or wheat glutens. The cat food line, Felidae, and some treats are made by other companies and distributed through The Creature Cafe with the same high-quality guarantee.
“Our food is so pure that it will help with a lot of common problems. I have customers that tell me our food clears up a lot of those skin problems like shedding and allergies,” said McCarter.
Some of the products he sells are certified by Association of American Feed Control Officials; others are not. Officials with the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine discourages buying pet foods that are not AAFCO approved.
Creature Cafe customer Ann Kimberlin has been impressed. Kimberlin switched to Creature Cafe two months ago for her cats, Emmitt Smith and T.C., and her dogs Champ, Belle, Dinga, Sophie, Gretta, Sadie and Queen Esther. “With seven dogs, we do a lot of feeding,” she said. “It’s too complicated for me to go and get it.”
Twice a month McCarter delivers food to her 500-acre farm in Olive Branch. But there’s another sort of delivery that keeps her coming back.
“I do have a litter box and I’ll tell you what, the cat food took the smell out of it,” she said.
Kathie Holder has fed Shelby, Kandi and Maverick the brand for two years.
The Collierville resident has a degree in horticulture and is prudent about their health. She fed the three Shelties food bought from the vet’s office until she read the ingredients on the bag. “‘I was, like, ‘I’m giving her corn and bone meal’ and I’m, like ‘what’s that?’ That’s like giving her cardboard,” she said. “I thought I was a little educated, but obviously not enough.”
Dr. Susan Lauten, a veterinary nutritionist and clinician with UT’s College of Veterinary Medicine, remains cautious about nontraditional brands. She recommends pet owners feed a balanced diet approved by a veterinarian and encourages hard questioning before selecting a brand.
“I know a lot of dogs who grew up with healthy long lives on Purina,” she said.
At the end of the day, “It’s a personal preference,” she said.
By Cathryn Stout for CommercialAppeal.com