Market Focus San Diego

The enticing climate that allows for year-round enjoyment of scenic coastlines and nature trails, along with the relative wealth and education of San Diego area residents, creates a welcoming environment for pet lovers—and the pet retail industry by extension— to call the region home. This growing number of pet owners coupled with their desires for premium quality and ethically sourced and made pet foods and supplies fosters an appreciation for locally owned and operated pet retailers who strive to become one with their community through stellar and memorable customer service. While Petco does call San Diego home, there are 125 pet specialty store locations in the region representing 63 different company brands. The diversity in choice for local and visiting pet owners makes the San Diego metro area a stand-out marketplace for pet retail.

Key Retailers

phy which it launched in 2021 as a means to help guide the marketing of its many products and services, built on the tenets of physical, mental, social, home and accessible health. Petco’s charitable arm Petco Love (formerly the Petco Foundation) continues to partner with local animal welfare organizations and shelters to promote and support pet adoptions.

The company has also continued to diversify its product offerings with an eye toward sustainability and made a public commitment to increase its assortment of sustainable pet products by 50 percent by the end of 2025.

Kahoots Pet Store calls Ramona, CA—located southeast from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park—home, though its 21 locations (seven are designated as dual feed and pet stores) span a large swath of South-

Key San Diego Area Retailers Listed by Store Count

• Petco 1,500 locations

• Kahoots Pet Store

21 locations

• Dirty Dogs & Meow

5 locations

• IB Pet 3 locations

• Pet Luv Mart 1 location

• South Bark Dog Wash

1 location imal care. Kahoots stores today remain focused on the needs of animals and their humans, providing high-quality products and supported by well-educated staff who offer a warm and open shopping experience. Various stores offer additional services like dog training, vaccines and teeth cleaning. The company also offers online shopping and delivery services.

In 2003, Kahoots launched its own premium dog food and has continued to manufacture food, supplies, toys, treats, wellness and care products for various animals. In 2017, Kahoots launched its own freeze-dried food and treats line for dogs.

Petco has grown to more than 1,500 locations in the US, Mexico and Puerto Rico since its founding in 1965 as a mail-order veterinary supplies business based in San Diego. The company remains headquartered here and continues to foster a growing network of in-store veterinary hospitals, complemented by its “Whole Health” philoso- ern California. Presently, a 22nd location is under construction in San Tan Valley.

Kahoots was founded in the 80s by Mike Bittinger and Ethan Tunnell who first drove door-to-door selling only one product: hay. The partners opened their first storefront in 1990 that carried an assortment of products for an-

Dirty Dogs & Meow operates five locations in the San Diego metro area, providing healthy and nutritional foods, cage-free grooming, self-service washing facilities and accessory products, all supported by a knowledgeable staff readily available to help guide and advise consumers. Franchise opportunities are also available.

The company is a family-owned and operated business that started after the Btesh family’s youngest son, Joel, had trouble finding premium quality dog food and enjoyable dog washing facil- r Cont'd on Pg. 10