Pet Wants, a leading provider of fresh, nutrient-rich pet food and pet wellness solutions, is closing out a year defined by expansion, leadership investment, and performance that significantly outpaced the broader pet industry.
“2025 was a really strong year for our brand,” said Ray Fabik, Brand President of Pet Wants. “We continued to expand our physical retail footprint, reached 68 retail locations systemwide, and saw double-digit growth that far exceeded overall pet industry growth. That tells us our model, our product, and our people are all aligned.”
Retail growth was a key highlight throughout the year, including a notable multi-store deal in Alpharetta, Georgia, where franchise owners acquired three locations from an existing pet retail chain. According to Fabik, that type of growth reflects the strength of the brand and the sophistication of its franchise owners.
“We’re seeing owners scale in really meaningful ways,” Fabik said. “When franchisees are confident enough in the model to acquire multiple stores, it reinforces that we’re building something sustainable.”
Leadership expansion was another defining theme of 2025. “It was an exciting year for us because we brought on a new brand president, a new vice president of franchise development and a new vice president of marketing,” said Angela Esposito, vice president of franchise development. “We’ve been very intentional about building out an already strong team with the right people in the right roles so we can align leadership for success.”
Esposito said 2025 franchise development centered on deliberate, strategic growth, not rapid expansion. “We’ve been super focused on bringing in the right owners, people who have the drive to succeed and who truly fit our culture,” she said. “They vet us just as much as we vet them, and we’ve welcomed some amazing owners this year who we’re excited to watch grow.”
That focus resulted in new franchise momentum across multiple markets, including a new owner preparing to open the brand’s first location in Arkansas.
“Our brand is a passion brand,” Esposito said. “People who love pets and want to own their own business find a natural fit with Pet Wants. At the same time, the pet industry continues to grow. Pet parents are spending more on their dogs than ever before, and new owners recognize how powerful that combination is.”
Looking ahead, Pet Wants is positioning 2026 as a “year of investment,” with new infrastructure designed to support franchisees as the system continues to grow.
“In 2026, we’re investing heavily back into the brand and our owners,” Fabik said. “We’re creating new support roles, including a director of retail operations, an inventory manager, and a director of grooming services, all specifically designed to help our franchisees operate more efficiently and profitably.”
Technology and marketing enhancements are also a major focus for the coming year. Fabik said Pet Wants is enhancing its website experience across all locations to make it easier for customers to engage, order, and stay connected with their local stores. The brand is also expanding its paid media strategically across the system to strengthen digital visibility and customer acquisition.
Esposito said the brand’s growth goals for 2026 are aggressive but deliberate. “We’ve identified several key states we want to expand into,” she said. “At the same time, we’re expanding our support team so all owners have even more hands-on guidance to help them grow.”
As Pet Wants enters the new year, leadership remains confident that the brand’s combination of fresh pet nutrition, retail scalability, and franchisee-first support will continue to drive momentum.
“We’re building for the long term,” Fabik said. “Everything we’re doing — from leadership hires to operational support to technology and food innovation — is about making sure our franchisees are set up for success now and well into the future.”
Ready to build a business rooted in purpose, passion, and pet health and wellness? Visit https://1851franchise.com/petwants/info to learn more about franchising with Pet Wants.
Pet Wants
SPONSORED
With new leadership hires and booming franchise development across the country, Pet Wants is outpacing the broader pet industry and positioning itself for success in 2026.
Pet Wants, a leading provider of fresh, nutrient-rich pet food and pet wellness solutions, is closing out a year defined by expansion, leadership investment, and performance that significantly outpaced the broader pet industry.
“2025 was a really strong year for our brand,” said Ray Fabik, Brand President of Pet Wants. “We continued to expand our physical retail footprint, reached 68 retail locations systemwide, and saw double-digit growth that far exceeded overall pet industry growth. That tells us our model, our product, and our people are all aligned.”
Retail growth was a key highlight throughout the year, including a notable multi-store deal in Alpharetta, Georgia, where franchise owners acquired three locations from an existing pet retail chain. According to Fabik, that type of growth reflects the strength of the brand and the sophistication of its franchise owners.
“We’re seeing owners scale in really meaningful ways,” Fabik said. “When franchisees are confident enough in the model to acquire multiple stores, it reinforces that we’re building something sustainable.”
Leadership expansion was another defining theme of 2025. “It was an exciting year for us because we brought on a new brand president, a new vice president of franchise development and a new vice president of marketing,” said Angela Esposito, vice president of franchise development. “We’ve been very intentional about building out an already strong team with the right people in the right roles so we can align leadership for success.”
Esposito said 2025 franchise development centered on deliberate, strategic growth, not rapid expansion. “We’ve been super focused on bringing in the right owners, people who have the drive to succeed and who truly fit our culture,” she said. “They vet us just as much as we vet them, and we’ve welcomed some amazing owners this year who we’re excited to watch grow.”
That focus resulted in new franchise momentum across multiple markets, including a new owner preparing to open the brand’s first location in Arkansas.
“Our brand is a passion brand,” Esposito said. “People who love pets and want to own their own business find a natural fit with Pet Wants. At the same time, the pet industry continues to grow. Pet parents are spending more on their dogs than ever before, and new owners recognize how powerful that combination is.”
Looking ahead, Pet Wants is positioning 2026 as a “year of investment,” with new infrastructure designed to support franchisees as the system continues to grow.
“In 2026, we’re investing heavily back into the brand and our owners,” Fabik said. “We’re creating new support roles, including a director of retail operations, an inventory manager, and a director of grooming services, all specifically designed to help our franchisees operate more efficiently and profitably.”
Technology and marketing enhancements are also a major focus for the coming year. Fabik said Pet Wants is enhancing its website experience across all locations to make it easier for customers to engage, order, and stay connected with their local stores. The brand is also expanding its paid media strategically across the system to strengthen digital visibility and customer acquisition.
Esposito said the brand’s growth goals for 2026 are aggressive but deliberate. “We’ve identified several key states we want to expand into,” she said. “At the same time, we’re expanding our support team so all owners have even more hands-on guidance to help them grow.”
As Pet Wants enters the new year, leadership remains confident that the brand’s combination of fresh pet nutrition, retail scalability, and franchisee-first support will continue to drive momentum.
“We’re building for the long term,” Fabik said. “Everything we’re doing — from leadership hires to operational support to technology and food innovation — is about making sure our franchisees are set up for success now and well into the future.”
Ready to build a business rooted in purpose, passion, and pet health and wellness? Visit https://1851franchise.com/petwants/info to learn more about franchising with Pet Wants.
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