Pet firm crosses the Channel for growth

MONSTER Pet Supplies has announced expansion plans, as it gets set to export into Europe.

The Leeds-based firm, which sells pet supplies online, was established in 2010 and now employs 14 staff with a turnover of £3m. It has gained funding from Barclays to help it achieve its ambitions to export into France.

The company has recently started exporting overseas to France and has launched a French language version of the website. Despite pricing and shipping charges, the company said it is able to compete effectively for business even at a distance – supplying specialist dog food cheaper to the French than they can purchase it from a local trader, it said.

Jonny Gould, owner of Monster Pet Supplies, said: “We’ve doubled our turnover in the last 12 months, have a fantastic e-commerce conversion rate and more than 50% of our customers come back and buy from us again.The time seemed right to expand overseas and we’re confident with the excitement of Le Grand Depart next year that it can only make potential French customers feel positive about a family-run Yorkshire business like Monster Pet Supplies.”

Barclays has provided support through working capital and international services and the company has ambitious plans including importing pet supplies from China.

Dawn Spencer, business banking manager at Barclays, said: “Whilst many businesses have been thinking about the opportunities the Tour de France will bring to the UK, it’s great to see that Jonny and his team have used the opportunity to focus their plans overseas in France.”