Why can't I find EVO dog and cat food online?
Mon May 9th 2016
Evo is ranked as one of the top dog foods by Dog Food Advisor, receiving it's rare 5-Star rating. As of the writing of this post Evo is perhaps the lowest carb, highest protein commercial dry dog and cat food brands available. So why can't you find it online and in most pet stores?
Back in 2010, Proctor and Gamble (P&G) bought Natura Pet Products, the former maker of Evo, California Natural, & Innova - all premium pet foods that were pioneers in the market for healthy dog and cat food. Unfortunately, P&G was just not equipped to handle premium foods that needed to be sold though specialized and well-informed independent pet stores. After the P&G takeover Evo started to receive wider distribution, but the strict manufacturing standards to create such a premium food just couldn't keep up with the scale. Independent stores even began to abandon the brand because they feared that P&G would degrade the product quality.
Eager to prove them wrong P&G implemented some serious improvements on already top of the line quality standards, but got unlucky when a single bag of dog food tested positive for salmonella. In an abundance of precaution, sweeping voluntary recalls were made to ensure that there was zero possibility of any dogs or cats getting sick. There were no confirmed cases of any dogs or cats getting sick from Evo, but the recall was so large and took product off the market for so long that many people were forced to find other brands to feed their pets. This lack of customer base caused even more independent stores to stop selling Evo leaving a void in the market for distribution.
Online stores like Chewy.com stepped in with the promise of delivering Evo to those who still wanted the food, but a tech company like Chewy was never really cut out to give the personal insights, the community learning, and specialized attention to matching your dog or cat to the right food. Transitioning your dog or cat to such a rich, nutrient dense food like Evo can take time and support from an expert. In fact, most of the foods under the Natura Pet Products umbrella require this kind of attention, and the P&G / tech company combination just wasn't working.
In 2014 P&G decided to exit the pet food industry all together. Mars stepped up to the plate and took over the pet care division, acquiring all of the P&G pet brands. Mars has a long history as one of the largest family-run business in the country. They also have successfully managed diverse businesses within the pet industry from entry level to ultra premium pet foods. Under Mars's guidance the process to turn Evo and the other Natura brands around finally began. Mars dropped some of the Evo and California Natural recipes to focus on making a tight range of the best possible dog and cat foods available under the Evo and California Natural labels.
With the food production under control it was time to focus on the pet parents. Ultra premium pet foods like Evo and California Natural aren't something you just go out and buy without some consultation and a community to support your dog or cat's transition to a healthier diet. Experts like those found in your local independent pet supply store have the knowledge and resources to make a transition to one of the best foods on the market easier and more manageable. That kind of support and community just isn't something you find at big tech giants like Chewy.com.
As part of our commitment to supporting the healthiest pet community that we can, we are happy to say we have the best local, community-involved experts in pet nutrition here to be your guide. We carry a wide range of Evo and California Natural recipes for dog and cats at Chaar.
Feel free to give us a call, stop by our stores, or visit us online to view our offering in Evo, California Natual, and more premium dog and cat foods.