(PRESS RELEASE) AUSTIN, TX – A Pup Above, producer of human-grade, gently cooked sousvide meals for dogs, announces it has agreed to national distribution with Animal Supply Company.
“ASC is excited about expanding our portfolio of high-quality products with A Pup Above! The gently cooked pet food category is experiencing exciting growth and our expansion allows us to further connect a trusted brand with committed retailers who share our belief that pets are part of the family. During a recent call with Javier, I learned more about A Pup Above’s whole food ingredients and their sous-vide precision cooking technique that makes their products uniquely healthy for our family of pets while naturally good for the planet. We are proud to add A Pup Above’s premium products to our portfolio and to have it available in all our warehouses,” says Jill Shoush, SVP sales, Animal Supply Company.
“With our partnership with Animal Supply, we’re very excited to make A Pup Above available to pet parents across the country and grow the gently cooked category as a whole,” says A Pup Above Co-Founder and CEO Ruth Marriott.
The A Pup Above team has also expanded to support the national rollout of the brand, adding Tony Sayegh as its VP of national sales, Emily Bianchi as head of sales for the Pacific Northwest, and Angie Krause as territory sales manager for the Midwest. All three have extensive experience, totaling 20 years of work in the pet industry for neighborhood pet brands.
“What sets A Pup Above apart in the gently cooked category is our unique sous-vide cooking process. This makes the meat extra tender and moist while reducing waste, preserving the whole food nutrients and enhancing protein levels. On average we have 72% more protein than other gently cooked foods on the market,” says Marriott.
The menu of flavors includes Turkey Pawella, Porky’s Luau, Texas Beef Stew and Chicka Chicka Bow Wow. All four recipes are made using 100% human-grade ingredients, non-gmo veggies and fruits, and meats with no added antibiotics or hormones.
The Austin-based brand was created by dog parents, Ruth and Javier Marriott, for their dog child, Lola, a 5-year-old fluffy Pomsky with big blue eyes. Today, she holds the titles chief pup officer (CPO) and co-founder of the company. She’s also the pup above on the logo. When the Marriotts got her as a puppy, the breeder recommended a kibble dog food. But Lola turned up her black nose at it. They tried the frozen raw dog foods on the market, but Lola didn’t like the taste or texture.
After countless weekends spent cooking up recipes, they finally got the” paws up” from Lola. “Lola has refined tastes,” says Ruth Marriott. “If she likes it, we know it will work for other dogs.”
Lola never imagined she’d be the inspiration for a business, but now she happily is one of the company’s top salespeople, traveling with the couple to all of their business meetings, as well as to pet store demos. The charismatic canine has closed more than a few deals, says Ruth Marriott.
“She’s more than a pretty face,” she says. A Pup Above will be available nationwide through Animal Supply starting in September.