The pet industry is constantly evolving, with droves of newcomers launching every season. Among the plethora of suppliers and products to choose from, it’s often the industry veterans that consistently offer retailers the most valuable – and profitable – options in the pet products arena. Their reliability, passion and dedication to their customers’ bottom lines are in many cases, hard to match.
One such example is Royal Pet Inc., a Minnesota-based family-owned company proud to celebrate its milestone 30th anniversary in 2026. Behind a mission to create high quality, innovative pet products that enhance the lives of pets and their owners, Royal Pet has evolved into one of the industry’s most trusted sources.
President and founder Troy Petersen started the company with a line of cat litter box liners, one of the first to market this type of product. From its humble beginnings, Royal Pet today represents six different brands, including the Spotty® and Fresh Kitty® waste management lines, ZoomaChew® dog and cat treats, Gnawsome® dog toys, HappyCat™ cat scratchers and CompanionGear® travel and accessories products. Additionally, an integral component to the company’s success has been its expertise in private label programs for major regional and national chains.
“A significant point of distinction for us has been in developing and expanding the private label business for an impressive list of customers,” says Kat Payne, Director of Marketing – Hardlines. “We’re able to assist them from start to finish in all areas of business – from product development and sourcing to art and packaging design.” To support this robust program, Royal Pet features award-winning product and packaging design, full CAD engineering and prototyping services and independent factory audits and routine inspections.
“Retailers love it – through our expertise, they’re able to make a brand statement and pocket additional margin,” Payne adds. Private labeling has been part of Royal Pet since its early days, and continues to grow every year.
Also fundamental to the Royal Pet story is its unwavering commitment to six core values, which can serve as a primer for any business interested in attracting and retaining customers, staying relevant and positioning itself for future growth. As Troy Petersen explains, these include:
Always Adapt. “We embrace adaptability by evolving with the needs of pets, their owners and our valued partners.”
Stay Innovative. “With over 25 U.S. and seven international patents, we prioritize innovation by developing pet products that seek to improve convenience and care.”
Keep Learning. “Guided by proprietary trend research and a lifelong passion for animals, we continuously seek new knowledge to enhance pet care.”
Uphold Honesty. “Ingenuity guides us – we communicate openly and stand by the quality of our products. We strive to ensure our products are to full specification.”
Think Globally. “With a worldwide mindset, we create items that meet diverse needs and standards across markets in Japan, Russia, Australia, Israel, South America and more.”
Drive Results. “For 30 years, we’ve focused on growing our retail partners’ category revenue, delivering real impact through quality products and customer satisfaction.”
“We are a committed service provider and supplier,” Petersen explains. “Our inspiration comes from our business partners who have trusted us throughout the years with opportunities to produce and manage their branded products. It is a supreme understatement to say that without them, we could not have attained this important milestone anniversary.”
One of those partners that has been with Royal Pet since its beginnings has been Fleet Farm in Appleton, WI.
“When we started our partnership, it was done with a handshake and an agreement to ship goods within a negotiated program,” explains Mark A. Stelzl, Divisional Merchandise Manager for Consumables, Pet/Farm/Wild Bird. “While we still have our agreements in place, they now require all the technological demands of doing business today. Growth, innovation, evolution and meeting the needs of their customers sums up Royal Pet.”
Pet Supplies Plus has also been a long-time customer. Sarah Franz, Private Brand Product Development Specialist notes “Royal Pet has consistently demonstrated exceptional strength in product development and planning. Their ability to anticipate needs, think strategically, and bring forward creative, effective solutions has made them an invaluable partner to our team.”
Since its founding, Royal Pet has seen dogs and cats truly become members of the family, and as a result, designs with today’s needs in minds. Ease of use and simplicity are key drivers, and in recent years the company has expanded its offering of toys that are more engaging and activity-driven.
In celebration of 30 years, Royal Pet is taking time to reflect on how its employees and partners have allowed it to reach this mark. “Their commitment to our vision, values and success has enabled us to create an innovative culture and dedicated team to deliver high performance pet products,” Petersen says.
“Reaching 30 years in business is no small feat. It reflects the strength of the foundation my dad built and the performance our team delivers every single day. I’m honored to play a role in steering this company toward continued growth, innovation, and long-term success,” says Paige Petersen, Vice-President of Sales & Marketing, and daughter of Troy.
“Our hearts are filled with pride and gratitude for what we have accomplished in these past 30 years, thanks to everyone involved in this company. We’re excited about what we will accomplish in the next 30! We are grateful for all the continued support and trust we are given in what we do best,” Troy Petersen concludes.
