JFFD closed its Series C funding round with L Catterton with a whopping $68 million (€61 million). The company said it will use the funding to expand into new key markets and conduct nutritional research of its products.The funding round for JFFD closed in September, reported Shawn Buckley, founder of the fresh pet food company.
“We have had a fantastic relationship with [L Catterton], they have been super helpful for us as a small company but a growing company,” Buckley said. About two and a half years ago, L Catterton contributed $21 million to JFFD in a different Series C funding round.
Back in April 2017, after the L Catterton’s first investment in JFFD, Howard Steyn, a partner at the private equity firm, said “JustFoodForDogs is the clear leader in small batch, home-cooked pet food, which is poised to capture meaningful share in the large and growing premium dog food market. The company is at the cross section between key consumer trends: clean eating, ingredient transparency and home cooking for health, and the humanization of pets. We look forward to partnering with their outstanding team to grow and expand the brand."
Going forward, JFFD will leverage its retail partnership with Petco and Pet Food Express, as well as its stores in veterinary hospitals, to drive sales and continue to develop fresh, nutritionally balanced pet food products.
In an interview, Buckley explained JFFD’s partnerships with its retailers are often mutually beneficial because the fresh pet food concept necessitates that pet owners visit the store more often, as the shelf life of its dog food is significantly shorter than that of traditional kibble or wet canned diets.
JFFD was founded in 2010. Today, the business operates in nearly 1,000 Petco stores, 70 Pet Food Express locations, veterinary hospitals and eight stand-alone kitchens across the US.
