(PRESS RELEASE) SEATTLE, WA — What began as a founder making supplements in her kitchen for her own pets, has evolved into a purple school bus crisscrossing America—and now, a major retail expansion. Austin and Kat has launched in over 200 Pet Supermarket stores across the Southeast after founder Kat Donatello personally visited 40+ locations in her converted Skoolie earlier this year.
“I’ve been living on the road for eight months, meeting pet parents where they are,” said Donatello, who started the journey with 3 dogs (Austin, Harper, & Blanca), and rescued a German Shepherd named Kingsley from Texas streets during the journey. “After 18 months on the street his coat was a mess, so we literally created an omega oil blend for him—rough, scaly skin to gorgeous coat in weeks. Months later, when that same dog was bounding through Pet Supermarket stores, his transformation told the whole story.”
The expansion brings Austin and Kat’s CBD + CBDa chews and Everything Omega Skin & Coat Oil to Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Texas. The chews combine broad-spectrum hemp extracts with adaptogens like lion’s mane and botanicals including valerian root—formulated for calming, mobility, and daily wellness. The omega oil features wild-caught small fish from MSC-certified fisheries, organic hemp, and flaxseed, deliberately avoiding the ubiquitous salmon oil due to environmental and heavy metal concerns.
What sets Austin and Kat apart is that every formula is handcrafted in small batches at the company’s NASC-certified Seattle Makery, where the 100% employee-owned team gets to create products to help their own pets. The company’s Pet Sustainability Coalition membership and commitment to ingredient traceability reflect a deeper philosophy: do it right or don’t do it at all.
“Austin and Kat brings something we rarely see—a founder who’ll hop in a bus and personally train our teams, backed by legitimate science and quality certifications,” said Harry Freed, Chief Merchandising & Supply Chain Officer. “Our customers immediately recognized the difference. They’re asking questions about ingredients and sustainability that Austin and Kat can actually answer.”
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The partnership emerged from Pet Supermarket’s search for wellness brands that could deliver both efficacy and education. Initial rollout focused on stores where Donatello conducted training sessions, with CBD + CBDa value packs and omega oils becoming consistent sellers among customers seeking alternatives to mass-produced supplements.
Austin and Kat products are now available at 200+ Pet Supermarket locations throughout the Southeast, with continued expansion planned through 2025.
About Austin and Kat
Founded in 2014 when Kat Donatello began formulating supplements for her anxious labrador Austin, the company has evolved from kitchen counter to custom Makery while maintaining its original mission: creating supplements good enough for their own pets. The Seattle-based, employee-owned company holds NASC certification and PSC membership, with all aspects of sourcing, product formulation, design, and handcrafted production being completed in-house. Learn more at austinandkat.com.
For more information, email [email protected] or visit austinandkat.com
About Pet Supermarket
Pet Supermarket is a one-stop shop offering a broad selection of premium pet food, supplies and services sold by trained professional staff who provide knowledgeable and friendly assistance. Pet Supermarket has over 200 locations equipped to provide pet parents with the convenience to shop locally in a community-oriented and welcoming environment. In addition, Pet Supermarket’s robust e-commerce experience includes standard and same-day delivery nationwide.
To learn more about Pet Supermarket, visit PetSupermarket.com.
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