A rewarding business for animal lovers

Trophy Petfoods offers a comprehensive, turnkey business for animal lovers. The network's Franchisee of the Year explains why he traded in a high-flying career in financial advice for the opportunity to run his own business serving his local pet-owners

After many years of working as an Independent Financial Adviser, I decided that I needed a new challenge in my life. I wished to run my own business with flexible hours in an industry that was close to my heart. I chose the franchising route as I felt it would provide me with the support and guidance I felt I needed to start my new business, a proven product, and a marketing strategy that had been tried and tested.

After looking at several franchising opportunities I chose Trophy Pet Foods because of their professionalism and the support they would provide, their caring attitude towards animals and the quality of pet food they produced. Trophy's careful selection of ingredients with nutritional benefits made me realise that this company cared about what they were doing and the welfare of other people's pets and were not just in the industry to make a fast buck.

'My dog continues to be the main food tester and is an invaluable marketing tool.'

Once I had discussed my intentions with Trophy and tested their food on my own pets and those of my friends to ensure the food was marketable, I launched my own franchise in Pembrokeshire in 2005. My dog continues to be the main food tester and is an invaluable marketing tool due to her healthy well-being, glossy coat and general good nature.

The initial training programme Trophy provides is an intensive course that covers all aspects of the business including the product ingredients and their benefits and great marketing ideas. You also have the benefit of a dedicated support manager to help you right from day one, both initially on your area and then just a phone call away. The level of ongoing support has been terrific and more than I could have hoped for and I can phone or e-mail Trophy with a query and I know I will get a quick response.

I have been with the franchise for just over two and half years and was pleased to learn that I was this year's winner of Trophy's Franchisee of the Year award. After 18 months my business was making a good turnover and a good salary for me, which continues to increase. My success is due to a lot of hard work and support from the franchisor. I have started to expand the business by recruiting independent distributors and we now have three vans in my territory and a fourth van is a definite consideration in the foreseeable future because I still have plenty of untapped ground within my territory. I have had no regrets in taking the franchising route and am looking forward to a brighter future.

Text: Nick Griffiths