Americans are panic buying food for their pets, but El Paso’s Pet’s Barn says no shortage here
EL PASO, Texas — Along with toilet paper, hand sanitizer and groceries, shoppers are stockpiling food for their pets during the coronavirus crisis.
Across America, dog food sales spiked 54% and cat food sales increased 52% this past week when compared with the same period last year, according to Nielsen’s most recent data.
“People love their pets and they want to make sure they take care of their pets,” General Mills CEO Jeff Harmening, whose company owns the Blue Buffalo pet food brand, told analysts in a conference call this past week.
Pets are not eating more than they used to, analysts say. But their owners are panic buying for the long haul at big retailers like Walmart and Costco.
Shoppers are also buying in bulk for their pets online as their hunker down at home. Online retailers, such as Chewy and Amazon, are informing customers that they may not be able to ship pet food orders until April 1 or later.
But the situation is much different at Pet’s Barn, an El Paso-owned and operated chain of pet supply stores established in 1947.
Pet’s Barn said that because it manufactures its own pet food in the Borderland, shelves are stocked with a ready supply of pet food at all 12 of its stores in El Paso and Las Cruces.
“Our manufacturing plant is physically located here in El Paso,” said Pet’s Barn owner Dean Travis. “We not only fulfill orders, we actually produce the pet food ourselves and have all the supplies to keep our shelves stocked every day to make sure El Paso and Las Cruces families are able to nourish their beloved pets during this season.”
Travis said Pet’s Barn is currently offering curbside pickup and home delivery at its locations. Customers may also order online, he added.
“We are equipped to produce all the pet food you need and get it to your front door,” Travis said.
Nearly 85 million U.S. households — 67% of the country — have at least one pet, up from 73 million in 2010, according to the American Pet Products Association, an industry trade group.
