(PRESS RELEASE) EASTON, PA: Phillips Pet Food & Supplies, the nation’s largest pet product distributor, will expand its Fresh & Frozen category on July 2, 2018, to further its initiative to build the industry’s leading distribution platform. Phillips will be the exclusive nationwide distributor of Freshpet®. In addition, it will expand the Nature’s Variety® product portfolio, including frozen raw pet food, in the Pacific Northwest.
Phillips currently has 14 distribution centers across the country, and all have increased capacity for Fresh & Frozen storage. A new Phillips distribution center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will open July 2 to supply Fresh & Frozen and other products to Upper Midwest customers. The strategically located distribution centers allow for consistency in delivery and give Phillips a national footprint that is supporting the company’s vision to be the preferred service provider in pet specialty.
“Phillips is pleased to have strong relationships with manufacturing brands such as Freshpet and Nature’s Variety and to bring those products to customers in all fifty states, Puerto Rico and Guam,” said Todd Shelton, CEO of Phillips Pet Food & Supplies. “This advances Phillips’ goals to deliver one national distribution network and offer a best in class customer experience.”
Freshpet’s refrigerated dog and cat food is made from fresh, whole ingredients cooked without preservatives. United States-raised chicken or beef is the number one ingredient in Freshpet foods.
Nature’s Variety provides minimally processed pure nutrition for dogs and cats that is 100 percent free of corn, wheat, soy and other artificial colors and flavors. Its Instinct® Raw products are frozen at their peak and never cooked to preserve their nutritional integrity.
With the expansion of the Fresh & Frozen category, Phillips will expand services to hundreds of new retailers with its industry-leading product platform, expansive brand offerings, knowledgeable sales team and Endless Aisles technology. In addition, Phillips is committed to consistent delivery by its own fleet of trucks, which will help assure fresh and frozen product integrity.
“Phillips continues to bring more brand variety to a greater number of customers, allowing independent pet stores to delight their clients and compete effectively,” said John Lawton, Vice President, Vendor Development, Phillips Pet Food & Supplies. “With our additional capabilities for the growing Fresh & Frozen category, we are uniquely positioned to be become the preferred service provider in pet specialty.”