Behind every successful business is a talented entrepreneur with a big idea, but for the award-winning plant-based dog treats brand Soopa, the inspiration behind this international success was to be a very small Chihuahua X Jack Russel called Lily.
When dog groomer Barbara met rescue Lily, it was love at first sight for the pair. However, little did Barbara know that this ‘pawfect’ union was to springboard a concept that was to become a full-time passion for Barbara and a thriving international enterprise.
“While working as a dog groomer, I was shocked at the amount of obesity, skin and health issues I saw in dogs. I started looking into typical ingredients added to dog food and treats. I realised then that I did not want Lily to consume all these nasty additives and fillers and that I could do better, so I set about researching and baking.”
With Lily and her friends as eager chief taste-testers, word soon spread through friends, then friends of friends and soon Barbara was inundated by pet parents wanting to buy her range of delicious superfood treats for their fur babies.
“It was then I began to realise that maybe I was onto something special, and if Lily and her friends, old and young, big and small, approved, then this could become a successful business.”
In 2013, Barbara officially launched Soopa, and the company has already won multiple awards. It is regularly featured in the media and sells across the UK, Europe, Southeast Asia, and, more recently, the USA. However, Barbara has never strayed far from her original vision despite their commercial success;
“I’ve always stayed true to my original quest to create delicious treats which combine human-grade superfoods that taste good and are good for your dog’s health. For example, we include cranberries in a couple of our recipes. Did you know that cranberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, known for its positive impact on digestive health and boosting immunity? Flaxseed is another fantastic ingredient offering a sustainable, plant-based, Omega 3 fatty acid for your dog that won’t upset their tummy. Every recipe we create is designed to benefit your dog’s health and well-being.”
With a growing range of tasty offerings, the Soopa range allows pet parents to shop by age and suitability with a focus on offering pets with restrictive health conditions, including obesity and low immunity, offering flavourful treats all dogs can enjoy without compromise.
” I am always thinking about new recipes and product ideas – it’s absolutely my favourite part of my role. Initially, I’ll present my ideas to my team and then decide which one to develop further. Once samples are ready, we do the all-important taste test phase with our in-house canine team. After packaging is designed and printed and production is complete, you are looking at six months from start to finish. The whole team gets ‘SOOPA’ excited near launch time. We just released our latest range, the ‘Cosy Collection’, embracing traditional seasonal flavours, including Pumpkin and Cranberry, with an autumnal flavour twist, especially for this winter season.”
Soopa is available through your local Pets at Home, Pets Corner and other independent outlets.
