Pet supplies are the cat’s meow at Food City stores. “The vast majority of our stores feature a whole aisle devoted to pet,” said Dan Glei, EVP of merchandising and marketing for Abingdon, Va.-based K-VA-T Food Stores Inc., owners of Food City. One reason for Food City’s success in pet is its expansive variety of food, treats and supplies tailored to the individual store. While all stores carry specialty and conventional pet supplies for dogs, cats and birds, in rural areas, for example, Food City caters to hunting dogs by offering bales of cedar shavings for sale.
On the food front, Glei sees fresh, refrigerated grain-free pet food as one of the key category trends. “This is one of the biggest trends in pet because it meets the needs of families trying to provide the best possible food for their pet family members,” he said.
And while Glei admits it’s challenging to stay in stock “in today’s very constrained environment”—particularly when it comes to canned product—variety, selection, convenience, value pricing and promotions have been instrumental in making Food City a destination for pet.
Making a name for itself as a place for dog and cat lovers has also furthered Food City’s street cred with pet owners. “What sets us apart is that we’re active in the community,” said Glei, who points to work with the local police department and twice-yearly campaigns with Pets in Need, during which Food City offers pre-made bags of pet food that shoppers can purchase and donate to a pet shelter.
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