Newlyweds pick Naperville as a base for their new dog and cat food delivery business
A 100-pound Rhodesian ridgeback mix was instrumental helping a newlywed couple start their Naperville-based mobile pet food business.
Jaclynn Berna started researching franchises last year while planning for her summer nuptials, ready to leave the logistics industry job that was less than fulfilling.
“At some point I came across a few different pet tech companies,” Berna said. One of them was Pet Wants, a company that provides nutritious pet kibble for dogs and cats.
After speaking with people from the company, she said, she really liked the brand, what they stood for and how the business provides the fresh, quality ingredients pet owners are looking for these days.
But she and new husband, Evan, knew they had one potential critic that could throw a wrench in their plans: their 4-year-old dog.
“I had our dog Augie, who’s very picky, try the food. … He loved it, and you know that kind of sold us on it,” Jaclynn Berna said.
Three months after their wedding, the Woodridge couple took a leap of faith and signed on as franchisees.
Starting this week, customers throughout the western suburbs can order fresh dog and cat kibble on the petwantsnaperville.com website, and the Bernas will deliver it for free.
Their goal is to open a brick-and-mortar store in north Naperville in May or June on Ogden Avenue near Columbia Street, though the free delivery will continue throughout southern DuPage, Will and Kane counties.
Jaclynn Berna said what she likes about the Pet Wants food is that it’s cooked in small batches at lower temperatures so it locks in the nutrients for the pets.
“You can actually feed them less per meal, which is good for everyone’s bank account and for the pet,” she said.
In the past, she’d buy a 40-pound bag of dog food because it was the best deal for a pet who would eat about four and a half cups a day, she said.
“(But) our dog won’t eat the bottom of the bag because he smells that it’s not fresh,” Berna said. “He just sticks his nose up at the bottom, so I’ve dumped the bottom of the bag out many times.”
With Pet Wants, Augie only needs about three and a half cups a day because it has more nutrients and protein so he gets full faster, she said.
There’s also no wasting the bottom of the bag because the kibble’s not old enough go stale before the dog’s gone through it, Berna said.
The pet food is produced in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in franchisees’ hands within two days of it being made, she said.
Dog food prices start at $3.50 a pound for the company’s bestselling chicken and brown rice formula made with free-roaming chicken, natural whole grains, vegetables and fruits.
For felines, prices start at $3.80 per pound for the lean cat formula, also with chicken, natural whole grains, vegetables and fruits.
The company advertises that none of its pet foods contain wheat, soy, corn, added sugar, artificial colors or animal byproducts.
Besides dry kibble, the company offers anti-itch sprays, healing salves and natural dog treats like jerky, grain-free biscuits, dried chicken hearts or minnows and Chilean blue sea mussel.
Evan Bernas, who still works full time at another job, said he’s always wanted to open a business.
“I’ll be honest, I didn’t think it would be in the pet industry by any means. … I think it’s more of a unique opportunity than I originally thought,” he said.
As people are moving toward organic and more healthy foods, he said, they want the same for their pets.
“Our pets are just as important to people as their kids and their other family members,” he said. “They would love to have them live as long as possible. Nobody ever wants to see anybody pass away.”
By helping keep pets healthy, he said, he’s making a difference in people’s lives.
There’s nothing like coming home to be greeted by a pet who’s excited to see you, Berna said.
“It helps drive you forward to what you’re trying to accomplish as well,” he said.
